in  Aboriginal  Remains 


OF  THE 


WARRIOR  RIVER 


itain  Aboriginal  Remains 


OF  THE 


XJWER  TOMBIGBEE  RlVER 


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OF 

OB1LE  BAY  AND 


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MISCELLANEOUS  INVES 
TIGATION  IN  FLORIDA 


By  CLARENCE  B.  MOORE 


1 


LIBKA.RV 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


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Certain  Aboriginal  Remains  of  the  Black 

Warrior  River. 


Certain  Aboriginal  Remains  of  the 
Lower  Tombigbee  River. 


Certain  Aboriginal  Remains  of  Mobile  Bay 
and  Mississippi  Sound. 


Miscellaneous  Investigation  in  Florida. 


BY 

• 

CLARENCE   B.   MOORE. 

l 

">'* 


REPRINT  FROM  THE  JOURNAL  OF  THE  ACADEMY  OF  NATURAL  SCIENCES  OF 

PHILADELPHIA,  VOLUME  XIII. 


PHILADELPHIA 

P.    C.    STOCKHAUSEN,    PRINTER. 
1905. 


WRITINGS  ON  ARCHEOLOGY. 

BY  CLARENCE  B.  MOORE. 

Certain  Shell  Heaps  of  the   St.   Johns   River,    Florida,  hitherto  unexplored.     The 

American   Naturalist,   Nov.,  1892,  to  Jany.,  1894,  inclusive.     Five  papers 

with  illustrations  in  text,  and  maps. 
Certain  Sand  Mounds  of  the  St.  Johns  River,  Florida.     Parts  I  and  II,  Journal  of 

the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  Philadelphia,  1894,  Vol.  X. 

Quarto,  130  and  123  pages.     Frontispieces,  maps,  plates,  illustrations  in  the 

text. 
Certain  Sand  Mounds  of  Duval  County,  Florida  ;   Two  Mounds  on  Murphy  Island, 

Florida;  Certain  Sand  Mounds   of  the   Ocklawaha  River,    Florida.     Journ. 

Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila.,  1895.     Vol.  X.    Quarto,  108  pages.     Frontispiece, 

maps,  plates,  illustrations  in  text. 
Additional  Mounds  of  Duval  and  of  Clay  Counties,  Florida  ;   Mound  Investigation 

on   the  East  Coast  of  Florida  ;  Certain  Florida  Coast  Mounds  north  of  the 

St.  John's  River.     Privately  printed,  Philadelphia,  1896.    Quarto,  30  pages. 

Map,  plates,  illustrations  in  text. 
Certain  Aboriginal  Mounds  of  the  Georgia  Coast.     Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila., 

1897.     Vol.  XI.     Quarto,    144  pages.     Frontispiece,   map,   plates,  illustra 

tions  in  text. 
Certain  Aboriginal  Mounds   of  the   Coast   of  South   Carolina;  Certain    Aboriginal 

Mounds  of  the  Savannah  River  ;  Certain  Aboriginal  Mounds  of  the  Altamaha 

River;   Recent  Acquisitions  ;  A  Cache  of  Pendent  Ornaments.  Journ.  Acad. 

Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila.,  1898.     Vol.  XL     Quarto,  48  pages.    Frontispiece,  maps, 

illustrations  in  text. 
Certain    Aboriginal   Remains   of  the   Alabama   River.     Journ.    Acad.    Nat.  Sci.  of 

Phila.,  1899.     Vol.  XI.     Quarto,  G2  pages.     Map,  illustrations  in  text. 
Certain  Antiquities  of  the  Florida  West-Coast.     Journ.  Acad.   Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila., 

1900.     Vol.  XI.     Quarto,  40  pages.     Maps,  illustrations  in  text. 
Certain    Aboriginal    Remains   of  the    Northwest   Florida   Coast,    Part   I;  Certain 

Aboriginal  Remains  of  the   Tombigbee   River.     Journ.    Acad.    Nat.    Sci.  of 

Phila.,  1901.      Vol.  XI.     Quarto,  100  pages.      Maps,  illustrations  in  text. 
Certain  Aboriginal  Remains  of  the  Northwest  Florida  Coast,  Part  II.    Journ.  Acad. 

Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila,,  1902.    Vol.  XII.    Quarto,  235  pages.     Maps,  illustrations 

in  text. 
Certain  Aboriginal  Mounds  of  the  Central  Florida  West-Coast;   Certain  Aboriginal 

Mounds  of  the  Apalachicola  River.     Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila.,  1903. 

Vol.  XII.     Quarto,  136  pages.      Maps,  illustrations  in   text. 
Sheet-copper  from  the  Mounds  is  not  Necessarily  of  European  Origin.     American 

Anthropologist.     Jan.-March,  1903.      Plates  in  text. 
The  So-called  "  Hoe-shaped  Implement."      American   Anthropologist,    July-Sept., 

1903.      Illustrations  in  text, 
Aboriginal   Urn-burial  in    the    United    States.       American    Anthropologist,    Oct.- 

Dec.,  1904.      Plate. 

A  Form  of  Urn-burial  on  Mobile  Bay.  American  Anthropologist,  Jan.-March,  1905. 
Certain  Aboriginal  Remains  of  the   Black    Warrior   River    [Moundville]  ;   Certain 

Aboriginal  Remains   of  the  Lower   Tombigbee   River;   Certain   Aboriginal 

Remains  of  Mobile   Bay  and   Mississippi   Sound  ;   Miscellaneous   Investiga 

tion  in  Florida.    Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila.,  1905.    Vol.  XIII.   Quarto, 

about  200  pages.     Maps,  illustrations  in  text. 


Ta^caloosa 


MAP  OF  THE  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER 

TO  TU5CALOOSA 

Scale  in  miles 


MA      R     E     N     G     0 


CKRTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS  OF  THE  HLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

Bv  CLAKKXCE  B.  MOOKK. 

The  Black  Warrior  river,1  having  its  sources  in  northern  Alabama,  pursues  a 
southerly  course,  and  passing  the  city  of  Tuscaloosa  and  the  town  of  Mound ville. 
enters  the  Tombigbee  river  just  above  Demopolis. 

The  Black  Warrior  river,  with  the  aid  of  dams  and  locks,  is  navigable  at  the 
present  time,  the  spring  of  1905.  from  its  union  with  the  Tombigbee  to  a  point  a 
short  distance  above  Tuscaloosa,8 139  miles,  by  water.  It  is  with  this  portion  of  the 
river,  our  course  being  northward,  that  the  present  report  of  our  work  during  part 
of  the  season  of  1905  has  to  do. 

Mr.  J.  S.  Raybon,  captain  of  the  flat-bottomed  steamer  from  which  our  archa?o- 
logical  work  is  done,  previously  had  spent  considerable  time  on  the  river,  from 
Tuscaloosa  down,  with  a  companion,  in  a  small  boat,  stopping  at  each  landing  to 
make  careful  inquiries  as  to  the  location  of  cemeteries  and  mounds.  The  names 
and  addresses  of  owners  of  these  were  furnished  us.  and.  permission  to  dig  having 
been  obtained,  there  was  little  to  do  upon  our  arrival  on  the  river  but  to  proceed 
with  the  digging. 

The  warm  thanks  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia  are 
tendered  all  owners  of  mounds  or  cemeteries,  who  so  kindly  placed  their  property 
at  its  disposal. 

Mounds  and  Cemeteries. 

Mound  near  Arcola,  Hale  County. 
Mounds  near  Candy's  Landing.  Hale  Count v. 
Mounds  near  McAlpiu's  Woodyard,  Greene  County. 
Mound  near  Stephen's  Bluff,  Greene  County. 
Mound  below  Lock  Number  7.  Hale  County. 
Mound  at  Calvin's  Landing.  Greene  Countv. 
Mound  near  Bohannon's  Landing,  Hale  Countv. 
Mound  near  Gray's  Landing.  Tuscaloosa  Countv. 

Mounds  and  cemeteries  in  Tuscaloosa  and  Hale  Counties,  near  Moundville, 
Hale  County. 

Mound  in  Moundville.  Hale  County. 

Mound  near  McCowin's  Bluff.  Tuscaloosa  County. 

1  It  is  said  on  the  authority  of  the  United  States  Engineer  Office,  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  that  the 
old  name  of  the  river  from  Demopolis  to  Tuscaloosa  was  Warrior,  and  above  Tuscaloosa,  Black  War 
rior;  but  that  the  entire  river  is  known  now  as  the  Black  Warrior. 

•  Additional  locks,  soon  to  be  completed,  will  permit  navigation  a  considerable  distance  farther 
up  the  river. 

16*  JOURNT.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XIII. 


138085 


120  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

Mound  and  cemetery  near  R.  H.  Foster  Landing-,  Tuscaloosa  County. 
Mound  near  Jones'  Ferry  Landing,  Tuscaloosa  Countv. 

*>  •/ 

Mound  near  Hill's  Gin  Landing,  Tuscaloosa  County. 

Mound  and  cemetery  below  Foster's  Ferry  Landbridge,  Tuscaloosa  County. 

Cemetery  above  Foster's  Ferry  Landbridge.  Tuscaloosa  County. 

MOUND  NEAR  ANGOLA,  HALK  COUNTY. 

In  a  cultivated  field  bordering  the  water,  on  property  of  Mr.  B.  G.  Gibbs,  of 
Demopolis,  Alabama,  is  a  mound  about  one-quarter  mile  in  a  southerly  direction 
from  the  landing.  The  mound,  which  apparently  had  long  been  under  cultivation, 
was  a  trifle  more  than  7  feet  in  height.  Its  basal  diameter,  N.  and  S.,  was  200 
feet;  E.  and  W.,  ICO  feet,  In  corresponding  directions  the  diameters  of  the  summit 
plateau  were  1.30  feet  and  90  feet.  An  excavation  previously  made  in  the  central 
part  of  the  mound  showed  it  to  be  of  clay  at  that  point. 

We  shall  say  here,  reverting  to  the  subject  more  fully  later  in  the  report,  that 
southern  mounds  of  the  class  of  which  this  one  is,  have  been  found  to  be  domi 
ciliary  and  not  to  contain  burials  as  a  rule.  Sometimes,  however,  the  flat  plateaus 
of  such  mounds  were  used  as  cemeteries,  which  may  be  detected  by  comparatively 
superficial  digging.  This  mound,  dug  into  in  many  places  by  us,  yielded  no  indica 
tion  of  burials. 

MOUNDS  NEAR  CANDY'S  LANDING,  HALE  COUNTY. 

These  two  small  mounds  are  1.5  miles  SSE.  from  the  landing,  near  the  northern 
side  of  Big  Prairie  creek.  They  were  located  by  our  agent,  but  as  we  were  unable 
to  obtain  permission  to  investigate  them,  they  were  not  visited  by  us. 

MOUNDS  NEAR  McAu'iN's  WOODYAKD,  GREENE  COUNTY. 

These  mounds,  .all  in  the  swamp,  required  the  services  of  a  guide  to  locate 
them.  All  evidently  were  domiciliary  and  all  were  dug  into  superficially  by  us, 
without  material  result.  They  are  composed  of  sand  and  clay,  in  varying  pro 
portions. 

One  of  these  mounds,  about  one-half  mile  in  an  easterly  direction  from  the 
landing,  is  approximately  6  feet  in  height.  The  basal  diameters  are  55  feet  E.  and 
W.,  and  44  feet  N.  and  S.  The  diameters  of  the  summit  plateau  in  the  corres 
ponding  directions  are  33  feet  and  23  feet. 

About  one-quarter  mile  in  a  SSW.  direction  from  the  other  is  a  mound  4  feet 
9  inches  high.  The  basal  diameters  are  62  feet  and  50  feet;  those  of  the  summit 
plateau,  25  feet  and  17  feet.  This  mound  is  of  irregular  outline  through  wash  of 
floods. 

About  one-quarter  mile  NE.  from  the  landing  is  the  third  mound,  very  sym 
metrical  and  almost  exactly  square.  Its  height  is  0  feet;  its  basal  diameter,  80 
feet;  the  diameter  of  its  summit  plateau,  45  feet,  Its  sides  almost  correspond  with 
the  cardinal  points  of  the  compass.  To  the  east  is  a  great  excavation  with  steep 
sides,  whence  came  the  material  for  its  making. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK   WARRIOR  RIVER.  127 

MOUXD  XKAU  STKIMIKX'S  BLUFF.  GHEEXE  COUXTY. 

This  mound,  at  the  landing,  oblong  and  very  symmetrical,  with  steep  sides. 
and  summit  plateau  as  level  as  a  Moor,  is  on  property  belonging  to  Dr.  .J.  W. 
Clements  of  Bartow,  Polk  County,  Florida.  Its  height  is  I)  leet  9  inches.  Its 
diameters  are:  at  base,  NNE.  and  SSW.,  150  I'eet ;  ESE.  and  WNW.,  195  leet: 
summit  plateau  in  corresponding  directions,  100  feet  and  135  feet.  The  mound  was 
dug  into  superficially  by  us  in  many  places,  in  a  vain  search  for  human  remains  or 
artifacts. 

MOUXD  HKI.OW  LOCK   NUMUKK  7,  HAI.K  COUXTY. 

Within  sight  from  the  water,  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river,  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  below  lock  and  dam  Number  7,  on  property  belonging  to  the 
Black  Warrior  Lumber  Co.,  of  Demopolis,  Alabama,  is  a  mound  of  somewhat 
irregular  outline,  5  feet  f>  inches  high,  48  feet  and  40  feet  in  basal  diameters.  The 
mound  was  dug  into  by  us  without  success. 

MOUND  AT  CALVIN'S  LANDING,  GREEXE  COUNTY. 

Within  sight  from  the  landing,  almost  at  the  edge  of  the  bank,  on  property 
of  Mr.  W.  B.  Inge,  of  Greensboro,  Alabama,  is  a  square  mound  of  clay.  4.5  feet  in 
height,  having  a  basal  diameter  of  40  feet.  No  mejisurement  was  taken  of  the 
summit  plateau,  which  seemed  to  have  been  enlarged  for  the  foundation  of  a  house 
that  had  been  upon  it.  No  burial  or  artifact  was  met  with,  though  considerable 
digging  was  done  by  us. 

MOUXD  NKAK  BOHANNON'S  LANDING,  HALE  COUNTY. 

Following  a  road  from  the  landing,  through  the  swamp  about  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  in  an  ESE.  direction,  one  reaches  a  clearing  on  property  of  Mr.  C.  I).  Cuni- 
mings,  Stewart  Station.  Alabama,  in  high  swamp,  where  is  a  deserted  house,  and. 
nearby,  the  mound  with  a  small  building  upon  it.  This  mound,  the  sides  of  which 
almost  correspond  with  the  cardinal  points  of  the  compass,  is  13.5  feet  in  height. 
Neighboring  trees  show  a  deposit  of  mud  left  by  freshets,  almost  8  feet  from  the 
ground  ;  hence  this  mound  must  have  afforded  a  welcome  refuge  to  the  aborigines 
in  flood-time.  The  western  end  of  the  mound  is  raised  about  2.5  feet  higher  than 
the  rest  of  the  mound.  The  maximum  diameter  of  the  mound.  E.  and  W..  is  as 
follows:  25  feet  under  each  slope;  the  lower  part  of  the  summit  plateau,  34  feet; 
beneath  slope  leading  to  higher  part  of  summit  plateau.  18  feet;  higher  part  of 
summit  plateau,  27  feet;  total  129  feet.  The  maximum  diameter  N.  and  S.  is  115 
feet,  05  feet  of  which  belong  to  the  summit  plateau.  Considerable  digging  to  a 
depth  of  from  4  to  5  feet  yielded  in  one  place  fragments  of  a  human  skull. 

MOUXD  NEAR  GRAY'S  LANDING.  TUSCALOOSA  COUNTY. 

In  a  cultivated  field,  on  property  of  Mr.  James  W.  Strudwick.  of  Tuscaloosa, 
Alabama,  near  the  landing,  was  a  mound  which  had  been  so  much  ploughed  over 
that  a  mere  rise  in  the  ground  remained.  Considerable  digging  failed  to  show  that 
it  had  been  used  for  burial  purposes. 


128  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

MOUNDS  AND  CEMETERIES.  IN  TUSCALOOSA  AND  HALK  COUNTIES,  NEAR 
MOUNDVII.I.K.  HAI.E  COUNTY. 

This  famous  group  of  mounds,  near  Moundville,1  lies  between  the  town  and 
the  Black  Warrior  river  which  is  about  one  mile  distant  from  the  town.  The 
larger,  better  preserved,  and  more  important  mounds  belonging  to  this  group  are  in 
Tuscaloosa  county,  on  property  of  Mr.  Hardy  Clements,  of  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama. 
Other  interesting  mounds  completing  the  group,  belonging  to  Mr.  C.  S.  Prince,  of 
Moundville.  are  in  Hale  county,  the  county  line  dividing  the  Clements  and  Prince 
estates.  The  cordial  thanks  of  the  Academy  are  tendered  Messrs.  Clements  and 
Prince  for  full  permission  to  dig,  both  in  the  mounds  and  in  the  level  country  sur 
rounding  them,  a  permission  which,  coining  as  it  did  in  the  planting  season  when 
our  presence  was  an  inconvenience,  is  especially  appreciated. 

So  far  as  we  can  learn,  no  report  of  investigation  at  Moundville  has  been  pub 
lished,  though  an  occasional  reference,  not  always  entirely  correct,  has  appeared  in 
archaeological  publications. 

We  here  give  a  survey  of  these  mounds,  prepared  at  the  time  of  our  visit  to 
Moundville  by  Dr.  M.  G.  Miller,  who,  in  addition,  as  in  all  our  former  archaeological 
field  studies,  had  charge  of  the  anatomical  work  of  the  expedition. 

The  heights  of  the  various  mounds,  which  depend  on  the  side  whence  the  alti 
tude  was  taken,  are  as  follows  : 

Mound  A. — 21  feet  10  inches. 

Mound  B. — 57  feet. 

Mound  C. — From  18  feet  9  inches  to  20  feet  G  inches. 

Mound  D. — 10  feet  G  inches. 

Mound  E. — From  15  feet  7  inches  to  19  feet  6  inches. 

Mound  F. — From  15  feet  9  inches  to  21  feet  2  inches. 

Mound  G. — From  20  feet  9  inches  to  22  feet  G  inches. 

Mound  H. — From  9  feet  G  inches  to  10  feet  4  inches. 

Mound  I.— 13  feet. 

Mound  .].— From  13  feet  10  inches  to  10  feet. 

Mound  K. — From  13  feet  9  inches  to  14  feet  2  inches. 

Mound  L. — From  12  feet  9  inches  to  14  feet  10  inches. 

Mound  M. — From  11  feet  7  inches  to  12  feet  9  inches. 

Mound  N. — From  18  feet  1 1  inches  to  21  feet  2  inches. 

Mound  0. — From  10  feet  9  inches  to  21  feet  7  inches. 

Mound  P.— From  23  feet  G  inches  to  26  feet  10  inches. 

Mound  Q. —  From  11  feet  5  inches  to  17  feet. 

Mound  R.— 20  feet  10.5  inches. 

Mound  S. — 3  feet. 

Mound  T. — 0  feet  5  inches. 

This  great  group  of  mounds,  all  above  the  highest  level  attained  by  the  river, 

1  The  town,  until  recently,  was  called  Carthage,  and  is  thus  spoken  of  in  various  publications. 


-/ 

M 


MOUNDS  NEAR  MOUNDVILLE,  ALA. 


Sea  f  e  in  feet 


7 


130  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

so  that  no  need  tor  refuge  from  Hood  impelled  their  building,  lies  on  a  level  plain 
extending  back  from  the  river  bluff.  This  plain  could  have  afforded  ample  space 
at  all  stages  of  the  river  for  the  games  and  ceremonies  of  an  aboriginal  center, 
which  at  one  time  Moimdville  must  have  been.  Evidence  of  aboriginal  occupancy 
extends  in  all  directions  beyond  the  limits  of  the  circle. 

The  mounds,  which  have  been  approximately  oblong  or  square  in  outline,  with 
summit  plateaus  usually  level,  are  so  arranged  that  two  principal  ones  are  sur 
rounded  bv  the  rest.  One  of  these.  Mound  A  in  the  survey,  fairly  central,  exceeds 
in  area  any  of  the  others,  the  basal  diameters  being  195  feet  and  351  feet;  while 
Mound  B  surpasses  the  others  in  altitude,  its  height  being  57  feet. 

Near  many  of  the  mounds  are  depressions,  formed  by  excavating  the  material 
for  their  building,  some  containing  water,  others  drained  by  means  of  ditches. 
These  depressions  are  not  present  within  what,  for  convenience,  we  call  the  circle 
formed  by  the  mounds  (although  it  is  not  exactly  circular),  but  are  sometimes  to 
one  side  of  the  mounds,  sometimes  outside  the  circle ;  and  the  mounds  within  the 
enclosed  space  do  not  have  such  depressions.  It  is  evident,  then,  that  the  mounds 
were  built  according  to  some  fixed  plan,  and  that  these  shallow  ponds  were  inten 
tionally  placed  outside  the  area  of  the  circle,  perhaps  that  those  living  on  the  plain 
within  could  have  more  convenient  access  to  the  mounds. 

Certain  of  the  mounds  have  graded  ways,  more  or  less  distinct,  leading  to  their 
summits.  These  ways  are  shown  on  the  survey.  Others  of  the  mounds  may  have 
had  similar  ways;  but  if  so  they  have  become  effaced  through  cultivation  or  wash 
of  rain,  or  both. 

At  the  northern  side  of  Mound  B  is  an  artificial  plateau,  marked  V  on  the 
survey,  one  and  two-thirds  acres  in  extent,  roughly  speaking.  This  plateau  ranges 
in  heisrht  from  2  feet  6  inches  to  1C  feet  5  inches,  the  greatest  altitude  bein<i  at  the 

O  '  O  CJ 

northeastern  part. 

On  the  survey  are  shown  deep  gullies  formed  by  wash  of  rain  which  seems 
"raduallv  to  be  eating  awav  the  territorv  on  which  the  mounds  are  situated. 

t/  »^  «/ 

The  ridge  north  of  Mound  R,  particularly  described  in  the  report,  is  marked 
U  on  the  survey ;  and  W  is  the  field  north  of  Mound  D,  where  much  digging  was 
done. 

Excavations  made  previous  to  our  visit  to  Moundville  are  shown  on  the  plans 
of  the  various  mounds. 

Although  we  were  provided  with  efficient  apparatus  in  abundance  to  take  pho 
tographs,  and  there  were  those  on  our  steamer  amply  able  to  do  so,  no  photographic 
illustrations  of  the  Moundville  mounds  will  be  given  in  this  report.  Long  experi 
ence  has  shown  us  that  a  photograph  of  a  mound,  through  undue  exaggeration  of 
the  foreground,  is  worse  than  valueless;  it  is  misleading.  A  mound,  stupendous  to 
the  human  eye,  appears  quite  ordinary  in  size  in  a  photograph. 

Although  there  had  been  considerable  digging  into  the  smaller  mounds  of 
Moundville  previous  to  our  visit,  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  result,  find  the 
artifacts,  if  any  were  found,  are  not  available. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


131 


On  the  other  hand,  one  continually  hears  of  interesting  "  find.s  "  made  in  the 
level  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mounds,  and  the  history  of  the  objects  dis 
covered  can' he  traced. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  C.  S.  Prince,  of  whom  we  have  spoken  as  one  of  the 
present  owners  of  the  Mound villc  mounds,  for  exact  details  of  the  discovery  there 
of  effigy-pipes  of  stone,  many  years  ago. 

Mr.  O.  T.  Prince,  father  of  Mr.  C.  S.  Prince,  acquired  the  property  on  which 
the  mounds  are  in  1857,  and  died  in  18(52.  The  pipes  were  found  at  the  time  ot 
Mr.  0.  T.  Prince's  tenure  of  the  property,  by  two  colored  men  who  were  digging  a 
ditch  near  one  of  the  smaller  mounds  of  the  group — the  one  marked  M  on  our 
survey. 

These  pipes  were  held  for  a  long  time  in  the  Prince  family,  and  were  shown, 
with  certain  other  relics,  before  a  scientific  society  in  1875,  when  a  photograph  of 
them  was  made  (Fig.  1).  Later,  one  of  the  pipes  was  disposed  of  and,  fortunately, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  Gen.  Gates  P.  Thruston,  who  describes  and  figures  it.1 


FIG.  1. — Antiquities  found  at  Moundville. 

Two  of  the  pipes  shown,  and  one  that  was  excluded  from  the  photograph  on 
account  of  its  inferior  condition,  with  equal  good  fortune  to  science,  were  procured 
by  Professor  F.  W.  Putnam,  for  Peabody  Museum.  Cambridge,  Mass.  The}-  are 
shown  in  Figs.  2,  3,  from  photographs  kindly  furnished  by  Professor  Putnam. 

At  the  time  the  pipes  went  to  Cambridge,  a  stone  disc,  8.75  inches  in  diameter, 
found  in  the  level  ground  at  Moundville,  was  disposed  of  to  Professor  Putnam  and 
is  shown  here  in  Fig.  4,  from  a  photograph  also  courteously  furnished  by  him.  A 
reproduction  of  a  drawing  of  the  design  on  the  disc,  made  by  Mr.  C.  C.  Willoughby, 
is  given  in  Fig.  5.  Mr.  Willoughby  informs  us  that  a  part  of  the  design  at  the 

1  "Antiquities  of  Tennessee,"  p.  187. 


I  NCHES. 


FIG.  2. — Effigy-pipes  of  stone.     Moumlville. 


FIG.  3. —  Effigy-pipes  of  stone.     Side  view.     Moundville. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


133 


lower  left  hand  side  lias  scaled  ofl".  The  dotted  lines  show  where  the  stone  has 
come  ofl'  in  thin  flakes.  The  design  is  apparent  on  the  stone  in  these  places,  but 
it  lacks  distinctness. 

Some  years  ago.  a  colored  man,  ploughing  near  one  of  the  larger  mounds  at 
Moundville,  found  a  superb  hatchet  and  handle  carved  from  a  solid  mass,  probably 
amphibolite.1  and  highly  polished.  This  hatchet  (Fig.  G)  was  procured  by  Mr.  C. 
S.  Prince,  from  whom  it  was  obtained  by  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences. 


FIG.  4. — Disc  of  stone.     Moundville.     (Diameter  8.75  inches.) 

The  hatchet,  11.6  inches  in  length,  with  a  neatly  made  ring  at  the  end  of  the 
handle  (not  clearly  shown  in  the  reproduction),  resembles,  to  a  certain  extent,  the 
one  found  by  Dr.  Joseph  Jones,  near  Nashville.  Tenn..  and  described  and  figured 

1  All  determinations  of  rock  in  this  paper  and  in  the  three  which  follow  it,  have  been  made  by 
Dr.  E.  Goldsmith,  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia.  As  it  has  not  been  deemed 
advisable  to  mutilate  specimens  for  analysis  and  for  microscopical  examination,  Doctor  Goldsmith  has 
not  always  been  able  to  identify  materials  with  the  exactness  he  otherwise  could. 


134 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


by  him. l  C.  C.  Jones  describes  and  figures  2  this  same  hatchet,  and  speaks  of  the 
finding  of  another  exactly  similar  in  South  Carolina. 

Thruston  also  describes  and  illustrates3  the  Jones  hatchet,  and  refers  to  the 
South  Carolina  specimen,  and  to  still  another,  somewhat  ruder  in  form,  as  coming 
from  Arkansas. 

It  is  interesting  in  this  connection  to  note  the  presence  of  "celts"  with  stone 
handles  in  Santo  Domingo,4  though  these  hatchets  are  much  inferior  to  the  speci 
men  from  Moundville. 


FIG.  5 — Design  on  disc  from  Moundville.     (HaVf  size.) 

The  monolithic  hatchet  from  Moundville  seems  to  be  much  more  beautiful  than 
the  one  discovered  by  Doctor  Jones,  for  it  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired  as  to  finish, 
and  the  graceful  backward  curve  of  the  part  of  the  handle  above  the  blade  seems 
more  artistic  than  the  form  of  the  corresponding  portion  of  the  Jones  hatchet, 
which  is  straight. 

Some  years  ago  Prof.  E.  A.  Smith,  State  Geologist  of  Alabama,  visited  Mound- 

1  "  Explorations  of  the  Aboriginal  Remains  of  Tennessee,"  p.  46. 

-  "  Antiquities  of  the  Southern  Indians,"  p.  280  ;  Plate  XII. 
3  Op.  cit.,  p.  259. 

*  J.  Walter  Fewkes,  "Preliminary  Report  on  an  Archaeological  Trip  to  the  West  Indies,"  Smith 
sonian  Miscellaneous  Collections,  Quarterly  Jssue,  Vol.  I,  1904.     Plate  XXXIX. 


FIG.  6. — Monolithic  hatchet  from  Moundville.     (Length  11.*!  inches.) 


136 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


villc  and  received  as  a  gift  a  disc  about  12.5  inches  in  diameter,  said  to  be  of  sand 
stone,  of  the  same  well-known  type  l  as  the  one  referred  to  as  being  in  Peabody 
Museum.  This  type  is  characterized  by  marginal  notches  or  scallops  usually  with 
incised,  circular  lines  on  one  side  below  them.  The  disc  obtained  by  Professor 
Smith,  however,  like  the  one  in  the  Peabody  Museum,  has  an  interesting  incised 


JL^j     '.     --_ 


J 


FIG.  7. — Disc  of  stone  from  Mouiulville.     (Diameter  about  1^.5  inches.) 

decoration  on  the  side  opposite  that  bearing  the  incised  circles,  in  which  it  differs 
from  the  ordinary  discs  of  this  type.  The  disc  in  question  has  on  the  reverse  side 
an  incised  design  of  two  horned  rattlesnakes  knotted,  forming  a  circle,2  within 

1  Rau,  Archaeological  Collection  of  the  United  States  National  Museum,  p.  37  et  seq.      Also 
Holmes,  "Art  in  Shell,"  Second  Rep.  Bur.  Eth.,  1880-81,  Plate  LVII,  p.  277  et  seq. 

2  Our  friend  Senor  Juan  B.  Ambrosetti,  Curator  of  the  National  Museum,  Buenos  Aires,  who,  it 
may  be  said,  incidentally,  has  been  much  impressed  by  certain  points  of  resemblance  in  the  aboriginal 
culture  of  Argentina  and  that  of  the  United  States,  in  his  "  El  Bronce  en   la  Region  Calchaqui," 
Anales  del  Museo  Nacional  de  Buenos  Aires,  Tomo  XI  (Ser.  3a,  t.  IV),  pp.  286,  287,  describes  and 
figures  a  disc  of  bronze,  33?  cm.  in  diameter,  now  in  the  National  Museum  of  Buenos  Aires,  around 
the  margin  of  which  two  serpents  form  a  circle. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK   WARRIOR  RIVER.  137 

which  is  a  representation  of  an  open  human  hand  hearing  an  eye  upon  it.  This 
disc  was  lent  to  the  National  Museum,  where  it  remained  a  long  time,  hut  is  at 
present  in  the  Museum  of  the  University  of  Alabama,  near  Tuscaloosa,  where  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  examining  it  in  company  of  Professor  Smith,  through  whose 
kindness  and  that  of  Mr.  James  A.  Anderson  of  the  Geological  Survev  of  Alabama 

*  v 

we  are  able  to  give  a  photographic  reproduction  of  it  (Fig.  7).  This  interest 
ing  disc  is  described  and  figured  by  Professor  Holmes.1  who,  as  any  cautious  archa1- 
ologist  would  have  done  at  that  time,  rather  discredited  its  genuineness.  In  view 
of  discoveries  made  since,  however,  the  disc  may  be  accepted  without  suspicion, 
and  such  is  Professor  Holmes'  opinion  at  the  present  time. 


FIG.  8.— Water-bottle  from  Mouuclville.     (Diameter  6.12  indies.) 

In  the  museum  of  the  University  of  Alabama,  near  Tuscaloosa,  is  part  of  a 
water-bottle,  said  to  have  been  found  at  Carthage,  which  place,  the  reader  will  recall, 
is  now  known  as  Moundville.  This  vessel.'  which  was  courteously  lent  to  the 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  by  Prof.  E.  A.  Smith  and  Mr.  .lames  A.  Anderson,  and 
is  shown  in  Fig.  8,  bears  upon  the  base  an  incised  design.  Around  the  body  of  the 
vessel,  which  is  somewhat  broken,  have  been  four  designs  similar,  in  the  main,  to 

1  Op.  fit.,  p.  278,  Plate  LXYI,  fig.  6. 

2  All  measurements  of  earthenware  vessels  given  in  this  report  and  in  the  three  papers  which 
follow  it  are  approximate. 

We  quote  from  our  preceding  reports:  "It  must  he  borne  in  mind  in  respect  to  process  work  that 
reductions  in  size  are  made  with  regard  to  diameter  and  not  area.  If  a  diagram  4  inches  by  2  inches 
is  to  be  reduced  one-half,  each  diameter  is  divided  by  two,  and  the  reproduction,  which  is  called  half 
size,  is  two  inches  by  one  inch.  The  area  of  the  original  diagram,  however,  is  eight  square  inches, 
while  that  of  the  so-called  half  size  reproduction  is  two  square  inches  or  one-quarter  the  area."  In 
other  words  the  reduction  is  linear. 

18  JOURS.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XIII. 


138  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

that  on  the  base.  One  of  these  designs  is  given  in  diagram1  in  Fig.  9.  Near  the 
head,  in  certain  instances,  where  space  has  allowed  it  (Fig.  10),  and  on  each  tail,  is 
a  swastika  enclosed  within  a  circle.  Professor  Putnam  writes  us  "  This  design  [the 
bird-figure]  shows  the  characteristic  duplication  of  parts  in  a  most  interesting  man 
ner.  In  the  centre  of  the  figure  we  notice  the  symbol  which  is  common  to  many  of 
the  shell  gorgets  from  Tennessee  and  which  corresponds  to  the  symbol  on  the 
Korean  flag  as  well  as  to  the  well-known  Chinese  symbol  indicating  the  positive 
and  negative,  or  male  and  female."  Professor  Putnam  next  points  out  how,  from 
this  central  symbol  two  heads  of  a  bird  which  he  identifies  as  a  woodpecker,  extend 


FIG.  10. — Vessel  from  Moundville.     Decoration. 
FIG.  9.— Vessel  from  Moundville.     Decoration.     (About  lialf  size.)  (About  half  size.) 

and  how  on  each  side  of  these  heads  a  symbolical  wing  of  the  bird  is  seen.  Then 
on  the  right  and  left  of  the  central  portion  are  two  tails  of  the  bird,  on  each  of 
which  is  the  symbol  of  the  swastika.  "Altogether,"  says  Professor  Putnam, 
referring  to  the  whole  design,  '•  this  is  a  beautiful  symbolic  figure  and  in  general 
workmanship  and  design  it  resembles  some  of  the  sculptures  on  bone  from  the  Ohio 
mounds." 

The  bird  shown  in  the  design  has  been  identified  by  Mr.  Witmer  Stone,  of  the 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  as  the  ivory-billed  woodpecker  (Campcphilus  pnna- 
palis  Linn.),  a  bird  now  found  in  one  part  of  Mississippi  and  in  parts  of  Florida, 
but  having  ranged  well  north  of  Moundville  in  former  times.  The  aboriginal 
artist  shows  the  tongue  of  the  bird  extended  to  a  somewhat  exaggerated  degree, 
although  the  thrusting  out  of  the  tongue  is  a  habit  common  to  woodpeckers. 
Emerging  from  within  the  open  bill  are  various  symbols,  perhaps  emblematic  of 
bird-speech.  The  call  of  the  ivory-billed  woodpecker  resembles  that  of  a  young 
child,  according  to  Wilson. 

The  tail  of  the  woodpecker,  when  spread,  is  fan-shaped  and  the  individual 
feathers  at  the  extremity  are  pointed — peculiarities  carefully  shown  by  the  abor 
iginal  artist.  When  spread,  the  tail  of  the  woodpecker  is  used  by  the  bird  to 

1  It  may  be  said  here,  as  applying  to  these  diagrams  and  others  of  the  Moundville  specimens, 
that  proportions  have  been  so  far  modified  as  was  necessary  to  portray  a  curved  field  on  a  flat  surface, 
though  otherwise  the  representation  is  exact.  . 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK   WARRIOR  RIVER.  139 

prop  itself  up  and  thus  steady  it  at  its  work.  This  feature  would  no  doubt  strike 
the  aboriginal  eye  mid  thus  cause  it  to  attach  more  importance  to  the  tail  of 
the  woodpecker  than  to  its  wings. 

Among  the  wonderful  objects  of  wood  found  by  Gushing  at  the  settlement  of 
Marco.  Island  of  Marco,  one  of  the  Ten  Thousand  Islands,  which  lie  off  the  south 
western  Florida  coast,  is  the  picture  of  a  bird  painted  in  colors  on  a  tablet  of  wood.1 
Mr.  dishing  believes  the  painting  to  be  that  of  a  jay  or  kingfisher,  "  or  more  prob 
ably  still,  of  a  crested  mythic  bird  or  bird-god,  combining  attributes  of  both." 
Four  contiguous  circles  in  line  are  represented  as  leaving  the  open  bill  of  this  bird, 
which  Mr.  Cashing  believes  to  be  speech  symbols. 

The  ivory-billed  woodpecker  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  aborigines.  Its 
head,  modelled  in  gold,  has  been  found  in  Florida.2  Catesby3  tells  us  that  "the 
Bills  of  these  Birds  are  much  valued  by  the  Canada  Indians,  who  make  Coronets 
of  'em  for  their  Princes  and  great  warriors,  by  fixing  them  round  a  wreath,  with 
their  points  outward.  The  Nortliern  Indians  having  none  of  these  Birds  in  their 
cold  country,  purchase  them  of  the  Southern  People  at  the  price  of  two.  and  some 
times  three  Buck-skins  a  Bill." 

We  shall  now  describe  our  digging  at  Moundville,  with  certain  details  discussed 
in  advance,  to  avoid  repetition. 

This  work  occupied  thirty-live  days  with  thirteen  trained  diggers  from  our 
boat  and  five  men  to  supervise.  In  addition,  local  help,  ten  men  per  dav  on  an 
average,  was  employed,  mainly  to  fill  excavations  and  to  sink  trial-holes  in  the 
summit  plateaus  of  the  mounds.  Long  experience  had  shown  us  that  square  and 
oblong  mounds,  in  the  south  at  least,  were  not  designed  primarily  as  burial  mounds, 
although  sometimes  burials  were  made  in  them,  locally,  in  graves  dug  from  the 
surface.  These  trial-holes,  averaging  four  feet  square  and  four  feet  deep,  when 
made  in  sufficient  number  on  the  plateau  of  a  mound,  were  considered  to  be  an 
excellent  method  of  detecting  the  presence  of  burials,  lor,  although  the  entire 
surface  of  the  plateau  was  not  dug  through,  it  was  extremely  unlikely  that  skele 
tons  or  bundles  of  bones  could  call  lie  in  an  area  not  dug  into  by  at  least  one  of  a 
number  of  well  distributed  shafts.  When  the  presence  of  human  bones  was 
detected,  more  complete  methods  of  investigation  were  adopted. 

The  material  of  which  the  mounds  were  made  was  clay,  clay  with  admixture 
of  sand,  and,  in  places,  to  a  limited  extent,  almost  pure  sand.  On  the  whole,  how 
ever,  the  mounds  were  chietiv  of  clav  with  an  admixture  of  sand,  often  a  verv  small 

*  »'  »/ 

percentage. 

Inside  as  well  as  outside  the  circle,  on  the  level  ground,  were  manv  sites 
giving  evidence  of  aboriginal  occupancy.  These  sites  were  more  or  less  thoroughly 
investigated  by  us  by  means  of  trial-holes.  These  holes  were  not  alwavs  as  deep 

1  Proceedings  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  Phila.,  Vol.  XXXV  No  153  Plate 
XXXIV,  p.  98  et  seq. 

•  Kau,  Smithsonian  Report,  1878,  p.  299. 

J  "The  Natural  History  of  Carolina,  Florida  and  the  Bahama  Islands,"  London,  1731,  Vol.  I, 
p.  16. 


140  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

as  those  that  we  dug  into  the  mounds,  since,  when  undisturbed  soil  was  reached,  con 
tinuance  was  unnecessary.  In  our  report  we  give  records  only  of  sites  where  tan 
gible  results  were  obtained,  [n  some  sites  no  burials  were  met;  in  others,  burials 
were  few  and  without  artifacts. 

The  form  of  burial  at  Moundville  did  not  include  urn-burial  so  far  as  we  were 
able  to  determine,  but  did  not  vary  otherwise  from  methods  of  burial  found  in 
various  southern  states.  When  the  entire  skeleton  was  present,  as  a  general  rule 
it  lay  at  full  length  on  the  back.  There  was  no  orientation  of  skeletons,  the  skulls 
being  directed  toward  all  points  of  the  compass.  Had  it  been  otherwise,  our  fortune 
at  Moundville  would  have  been  better,  as  vessels  of  earthenware  almost  always  lay 
near  the  skull,  hence  by  following  the  skeleton  from  the  feet  up,  we  could  have 
reached  these  vessels  with  the  aid  of  a  trowel  rather  than,  as  was  too  often  the  case, 
bv  unintentional  blows  from  a  spade. 

All  human  remains  at  Moundville  were  badly  decaved  and  nearlv  all  were 
represented  by  fragments  only.  No  crania  were  saved. 

Parts  of  crania  found  by  us  were  carefully  examined  for  evidence  of  ante- 
mortem  compression,  but  none  was  met  with,  save  in  one  case  where  it  seemed  to 
us  to  be  evident.  This  fragment,  the  anterior  part  of  a  skull,  was  sent  by  us  to 
the  National  Museum.  The  following  report  as  to  the  fragment  was  received  from 
Dr.  Ales  Hrdlicka :  "The  skull  shows  in  a  moderate  degree  an  artificial  frontal 
flattening.  This  variety  of  deformation  was  produced  when  an  infant,  by  the  pro 
longed  application  of  a  direct  pressure  (pad  or  board)  over  the  forehead,  a  custom 
which  existed  in  several  of  the  Gulf  States."  Therefore,  frontal  flattening  was 
not  unknown  at  Moundville.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  also,  that  as  the  crania 
examined  were  usually  in  small  fragments,  evidence  of  compression  in  many 
could  well  have  escaped  us. 

The  earthenware  of  Moundville  is  shell-tempered  as  a  rule,  but  not  always. 
In  large  cooking  vessels  the  particles  of  shell  are  coarse  and  show  on  the  surface. 
In  the  better  ware  the  pounded  shell  is  less  noticeable,  because  it  is  more  finely 
ground  and  for  the  reason  that  the  Moundville  ware,  except  in  the  case  of  cooking- 
vessels,  is  almost  invariably  covered  with  a  coating  of  black,  more  or  less  highly 
polished  on  the  outer  surface.  This  coating  was  not  produced  by  the  heat  in  firing 
the  clay,  but  was  a  mixture  intentionally  put  on  by  the  potters.  Scrapings  from 
the  surface  of  a  number  of  vessels  were  furnished  by  us  to  Harry  F.  Keller.  Ph.D., 
who,  by  analysis,  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  the  black  coating  on  the  earthen 
ware  is  carbonaceous  matter.  Under  the  microscope  it  appears  as  a  lustrous 
coating,  which  must  have  been  in  a  liquid  state  when  applied.  Chemicals  have 
little  effect  upon  the  coating;  it  is  insoluble  in  alcohol  and  in  ether,  not  attacked 
by  acids,  and  but  slightly  affected  by  caustic  alkali.  From  its  appearance  and 
chemical  behavior,  Dr.  Keller  concludes  that  it  must  have  been  applied  in  the  form 
of  a  tarry  or  bituminous  matter  which,  upon  heating  out  of  contact  with  air,  was 
converted  into  a  dense  variety  of  carbon.  Doctor  Keller  is  of  opinion  that  a  mix 
ture  of  soot  and  fat  or  oil  might  produce  the  effect,  though  the  numerous  lustrous 
particles  resembling  graphite  rather  suggest  the  carbonization  of  a  tar-like  substance. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  141 

The  earthenware  of  Moundville  is  characteri/ed   hv  monotony  of  form,  the 

v  •> 

water-bottle,  the  bowl,  and  the  pot  being  almost  the  sole  representatives  of  the 
potter's  art  met  with  in  its  graves.  It  is  to  the  striking  incised  decoration  that  we 
must  look  lor  the  great  interest  attached  to  the  earthenware  of  the  place. 

Stamped  decoration  was  absent.  Not  only  was  the  complicated  stamp  of  the 
south  Appalachian  region,  which  extends  across  to  southern  Alabama,  not  met  with 
in  a  single  instance,  but  our  old.  intimate,  and  hitherto  ever-present  friend,  the 
small  check-stamp,  was  absent  also. 

The  custom  of  perforating  the  base  of  vessels  placed  with  the  dead,  in  order 
to  ''kill"  the  vessels  that  their  souls  might  be  free  to  accompany  the  spirit  of  the 
departed,  was  not  practised  at  Moundville,  though  it  extended  for  a  distance  up 
the  Tombigbee  river,  below  its  junction  with  the  Black  Warrior. 

The  reader  will  note  in  the  detailed  description  of  the  discoveries  at  Mound 
ville.  which  follows,  that  not  one  object  met  with  by  us,  either  through  its  method 
of  manufacture  or  the  material  of  which  it  was  made,  gave  indication  of  influence 
of  Europeans.  The  greatest  pains  were  taken  by  us  during  the  entire  investigation 
to  note  the  presence  of  any  object  obtained  from  the  whites.  Presumably,  later 
Indians  did  not  use  Moundville  as  a  center  for  burials. 

All  objects  found  at  Moundville  by  us.  with  the  exception  of  certain  dupli 
cates,  which  were  sent  to  Phillips  Academy  Museum,  Andover,  Mass..  are  to  be 
seen  at  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia. 


MOUNDVILLE. 

MOUND  A. 

Mound  A,  the  central  one  of  the  Moundville  group,  about  22  feet  in  height 
and  irregularly  oblong  in  horizontal  section,  has  a  summit  plateau  155  bv  271  feet. 
Thirty-three  trial-holes  were  sunk  in  the  plateau,  showing  yellow  clay  with  a  slight 
admixture  of  sand.  One  small  arrowhead  of  jasper  alone  rewarded  our  search. 

MOUND  B. 

Mound  B.  57  feet  in  height,  seems  stupendous  when  viewed  from  the  level 
ground.  Two  steep  causeways,  one  at  the  north,  the  other  at  the  east,  lessen  some 
what  the  angle  of  ascent,  which,  on  the  western  side,  is  thirty-eight  degrees.  The 
summit  plateau,  roughly  oblong,  is  118  feet  in  width  by  149  feet  in  length.  Twenty- 
two  trial-holes  sunk  by  us  yielded  neither  human  bones  nor  artifact.  The  super 
ficial  part  of  the  mound  is  of  yellow  clay  with  a  small  percentage  of  sand. 

FIELD  NORTH  OF  MOUND  B. 

This  field,  probably  between  one  and  two  acres  in  extent,  and  bordering  the 
northern  side  of  Mound  B.  is  under  cultivation  and  shows  on  its  surface  numerous 
traces  of  aboriginal  occupancy.  Eighteen  trial-holes  and  150  feet  of  narrow  trench, 


142 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


all  about  2.5  feet  deep,  were  excavated  through  loamy  material  to  undisturbed  soil. 
No  human  remains  were  encountered.  The  only  object  of  interest  met  with  among 
the  usual  midden  debris  was  a  hoe-shaped  implement  of  granitic  rock,  5  inches  long 
by  4.75  inches  wide.  An  attempt  at  perforation  has  been  almost  carried  through 
on  one  side,  but  has  been  barely  started  on  the  other  side  (Fig.  11). 

In  a  paper  by  us,  published 
in  1903, '  we  adduced  considerable 
evidence  to  prove,  what  others 
had  suggested  before,  that  the  so- 
called  hoe-shaped  implement  is  a 
ceremonial  axe. 

FIELD  WEST  OF  MOUND  B. 

This  field,  lying  directly  to 
the  west  of  Mound  B,  and  con 
siderably  smaller  than  the  one 
just  described,  was  rather  un 
promising  in  appearance.  Eight 
trial-holes  gave  no  material  result, 
and,  from  the  appearance  of  the 
soil,  no  promise  of  success. 

On  the  border  of  this  field, 
overlooking  a  deep  gully  made 
by  wash  of  rain,  were  several 
slight  eminences  consisting  of  a 
mixture  of  loamv  sand  and  clay, 
in  part  washed  away.  These  undu 
lations,  small,  low.  and  of  irregular 
shape,  were  thoroughly  searched. 
In  a  mingling  of  bones  in  which  at  least  three  adults  and  one  child  were  rep 
resented,  was  Vessel  No.  1,  a  small  bowl  with  three  protuberances  on  one  side  and 
three  on  the  other — doubtless  conventionalized  head,  tail,  and  four  legs  (Fig.  12). 


FIG.  11. — Ceremonial  axe.      Trench  near  Mound  B. 
(Length  5  inches.) 


FIG.  12.— Vessel  No.  1.     Field  west  of  Mound  B. 
(Diameter  5.4  inches.) 


FIG.  13.— Vessel  No.  3.     Field  west  of  Mound  B. 
(Diameter  6  inches.) 


1  "The  So- called  'Hoe-shaped  Implement,'"  Amer.  Anthropologist,  Vol.  V,  pp.  498-502,  July- 
September,  1903. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  RKMAINS,  BLACK    WAIMMOi:    IJIYER.  143 

Near  Vessel  No.  1  were  Vessel  No.  2  (a  small,  undeeorated  water-bottle  with 
wide  mouth),  and  a  discoidal  stone  1  inch  in  diameter. 

Near  the  skull  of  a  child,  whose-  skeleton   lay  at  lull   length  on   the  back,  was 
Vessel  No.  3,  a  howl  with  semiglobular  body  and  flaring 
rim.  imdeeorated  save  for  a  notched  margin  (Fig.  13). 

Besides  the  usual  midden  debris  there  were  in  the 
soil,  apart  from  human  remains,  a  human  head  and  the 
head  ol'  a  fish,  imitated  in  earthenware,  which  had  formed 
parts  of  vessels;  a  rough  arrowhead  or  knife,  of  chert;  six 
discs  made  from  potsherds,  one  very  neatly  rounded  ;  and 
an  interesting  representation  of  a  human  hand,  done  in 
hard  and  polished  earthenware,  having  two  holes  for  sus-  F,,;.  i4._ivmiant  of  earthen- 

i  Ul.,     1  4  ^  WHIP.     Field  west  of  Mound 

pension  (tig.  14).  B    (Fllll  size  ; 

MOUND  C. 

Mound  C,  overlooking  the  river,  an  irregular  pentagon  in  hori'/.ontal  section, 
has  a  basal  circumference  of  about  485  feet  while  the  circnmlerence  of  its  summit 
plateau  is  295  feet.  As  the  mound  is  on  a  decided  slope,  near  land  seemingly  arti 
ficially  depressed,  and  is  bordered  by  a  ravine  on  one  side,  the  height  is  difficult  to 
determine,  varying  locally  between  U  feet  and  20  feet,  approximately. 

Twenty-one  trial-holes  were  sunk  in  the  summit  plateau,  in  some  of  which  we 
came  upon  human  remains  almost  at  once. 

In  one  hole.  4  feet  down,  was  a  bunched  burial. 

In  another  hole.  2  feet  from  the  surface,  was  a  single  skull  with  a  bunch  of 
bones  badly  decayed  and  crushed.  With  these  bones  were  a  small  quantity  of  mica 
and  Vessel  No.  1 — a  water-bottle  painted  red.  with  decoration  in  cream-colored 
paint  (Fig.  15).  Half  of  the  decoration,  which  is  similar  to  the  other  half,  is  shown 
in  diagram  in  Fig.  1(1.  This  water-bottle  proved  to  be  the  oulv  vessel  with  painted 
decoration  found  by  us  at  Moundville.  Near  it  was  Vessel  No.  '2  in  fragments. 
This  vessel,  a  cup.  since  put  together,  has  a  rather  rude,  incised  decoration  shown 
in  Fig.  17.  In  the  same  hole,  3  feet  distant,  were  small  fragments  of  human  bone 
and  bits  of  pottery. 

From  other  excavations  came  the  usual  hones,  pebble-hammers,  and  bits  of 
pottery,  and  two  shells. 

While  digging  the  trial-holes  it  was  noticed  that  no  human  remains  were  dis 
covered  in  the  southern  half  of  the  plateau,  and  that  the  soil  of  almost  the  entire 
northern  half  of  the  plateau  was  blackened  with  admixture  of  organic  matter. 
With  these  facts  in  mind,  we  determined  to  dig  superficially  that  part  of  the  plateau 
which  seemed  to  promise  favorable  results,  but  first  it  was  decided  to  get  some  idea 
as  to  the  body  of  the  mound  by  an  excavation  of  considerable  si/.e.  Consequently 
an  excavation  24  feet  square,  near  the  central  part  of  the  plateau,  was  carried  to  a 
depth  of  1C. 5  feet,  or  1  foot  below  previously  undisturbed  ground,  where  the  exca 
vation  had  conversed  to  dimensions  of  14  feet  by  16  feet.  A  small  hole,  carried 


144  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  15.— Vessel  No.  1.     Mound  C.     (Height  8  inches.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK   WAHKIOR  RIVER. 


145 


.  16. — Vessel  No.  1.     Decoration.     Mound  ('.     (About  half  size.) 


FiO.  18. — Plan  of  excavations.     Mound  (.'. 


FIG.  17. — Vessel  No.  2.     Mound  C.     (Diameter  4  iuelies.  j 


considerably  deeper,  substantiated  our  belief  that  the  base  of  the  mound  had  been 
reached.  A  plan  showing  the  excavation  and  the  superficial  work  done  by  us  in 
this  mound  is  given  in  Fig.  18. 

In  the  northeastern  part  of  the  great  excavation  burials  were  met  with  at  a 
depth  of  from  2.5  feet  to  4.5  feet. 

Two  and  one-half  feet  from  the  surface,  with  no  burial  remaining,  was  a  hand 
some  disc  of  metamorphic  gneiss,  10.25  inches  in  diameter,  with  scalloped  rim  and 
with  incised  decoration  on  one  side  only  (Fig.  19).  On  one  side  of  the  disc  are 
traces  of  paint. 

In  an  earlier  part  of  this  report  we  have  described  the  finding  of  two  stone 
discs  at  Moundville,  previous  to  our  visit,  and  have  given  references  to  works  in 
which  the  area  of  distribution  of  large  stone  discs  and  slabs  is  described  and  their 
probable  use  discussed.  Stone  discs  and  slabs1  were  found  by  us  on  many  occasions 
at  Moundville.  as  will  be  noted  in  this  report,  and  in  each  case  the  disc  or  the  slab 
was  more  or  less  thickly  smeared  with  paint,  sometimes  cream-colored,  sometimes 

1  Compare,  Jesse  Walter  Fewkes,  "Two  Summers'  Work  in  Pueblo  Ruins,"  22nd  Ann.  Rep.  Bur. 
Am.  Eth.,  Part  I,  p.  185  et  seq.,  where  ceremonial  slabs  found  in  Arizona  are  described. 

19  JOUEN.  A.  N.  S.  PH1LA.,  VOL.   XIII. 


140 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS    BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


red.  The  cream-colored  paint  upon  one  of  the  discs,  analyzed  by  Dr.  H.  F.  Keller, 
proved  to  he  an  impure  white-lead.  White-lead,  ay  the  reader  is  aware,  is  lead  car 
bonate  and  of  the  same  composition  as  the  incrustation  frequently  lound  on  the  sul 
phide  ore  of  lead.  Masses  of  galena  (lead  sulphide)  are  often  found  in  the  mounds. 


* 

r. 

,**».'- 


-  .-  . 
..»#.-<        * " 

- 


FIG.  19. — Stone  disc.     Mound  C.     (Diameter  10.25  inches.) 


and  as  the  reader  will  see.  such  masses  were  met  with  by  us  at  Moundville.  Accord 
ing  to  Dr.  Keller,  even  a  careful  quantitative  analysis  of  the  carbonate  deposit  from 
galena  would  not  show  whether  it  was  originally  the  manufactured  pigment  or  the 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK   WARRIOR  RIVER.  147 

native  carbonate;   therefore  we  cannot  determine  chemically  whether  or  not  the 
paint  on  the  disc  is  European  white-lead. 

It  is  out  of  the  question  to  suppose  that  aborigines  manufactured  white-lead 
from  the  sulphide  ore,  the  process  being  too  complicated,  necessitating,  as  it  does, 
the  reduction  of  the  sulphide  ore  to  metallic  lead  and  the  production  of  the  carbo 
nate  paint  from  the  metal.  Therefore,  as  to  the  provenance  of  this  paint  we  have 
three  hypotheses  : 

1.  That  the  paint  was  made  by  Europeans. 

2.  That  the  paint  is  carbonate  of  lead  scraped  by  the  aborigines  from  masses 
of  galena. 

3.  That  the  paint,  originally  of  silver  color,  was  ground  from  masses  of  galena 
and  that  this  finely-ground  lead  sulphide,  during  long  lapse  of  time  in  the  mounds, 
became  the  carbonate.      This  hypothesis  is  strengthened  by  the  fact   that  in   very 
many  cases  we  have  found  masses  of  galena  in  the  mounds  presenting  facets  pro 
duced  by  rubbing,  and   in   some  cases  hollows  probably  made   in   the  same  way. 
Doctor  Keller,  however,  is  of  opinion  that  paint  made  in  this  way  would  show,  at 
the  present  time,  glittering  particles  of  galena  that  had  not  undergone  change. 

As  the  result  of  our  investigations,  we  believe  the  foregoing  to  lie  the  only 
ways  of  accounting  for  the  presence  of  white-lead  in  the  mounds.  In  view  of  the 
fact  that  no  object  surely  of  European  provenance  was  found  in  the  mounds  or 
cemeteries  of  Moundville.  and  the  knowledge  that  the  aborigines  had  the  material 
at  hand  to  manufacture  a  lead  paint  with  the  aid  of  bear's  grease,  it  seems  conclu 
sive  to  us  that  the  paint  on  the  discs  and  slabs  is  purely  of  aboriginal  origin. 

The  universal  presence  of  paint  upon  these  discs  and  slabs  seems  to  otter  a 
clue  to  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  used.  and.  until  a  better  suggestion  is 
ottered,  we  shall  consider  them  palettes  for  the  mixing  of  paint. 

Beneath  this  disc  in  .Mound  C  were  three  vessels,  two  badly  crushed  (Vessels 
Nos.  3  and  4),  the  third  (Vessel  No.  5).  with  a  handle  broken  and  missing,  having 
an  incised  scroll  decoration  of  a  pattern  to  be  figured  several  times  in  other  parts 
of  this  report 

Vessel  No.  3,  when  pieced  together,  proved  to  be  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle 
decorated  with  a  kind  of  incised  meander  in  a  cross-hatched  field  (Fig.  20). 

Vessel  No.  4.  repaired  and  partly  restored  (Fig.  21),  has  around  the  body  eight 
incised  open  hands  alternately  pointing  upward  and  downward.  On  each  hand  is 
an  open  eye.  Part  of  this  design  is  shown  in  diagram  in  Fig.  22. 

Thirty  inches  from  the  surface  were  friable  fragments  of  sheet-copper  corroded 
through  and  through. 

Many  shell  beads  and  bits  of  sheet-copper  lay  with  a  fragment  of  a  tibia,  about 
3  feet  from  the  surface. 

A  skeleton  at  full  length,  about  3  feet  down,  had  on  one  side  of  the  skull  a 
copper  ear-plug  of  the  usual  type,  and  on  the  chest  the  crumbling  remains  of  what 
must  have  been  a  sheet-copper  ornament  of  considerable  size. 

A  trifle  more  than  3  feet  from  the  surface  was  a  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the 


148  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.   BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


Fio.  20.— Vessel  No.  3.     Mound  C.     (Height  5.4  inches.) 


FIG.  21. —  Vessel  No.  4.     Mound  C.     (Diameter  5.7  inches.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  RK.MAINS,  BLACK   WARIMOR    KIVER. 


149 


FIG.  22. — Vessel    No.   4.     Decoration. 
Mound  C.     (About  half  size.) 


bark,  with  fragments  of  sheet-copper  at  the  head 
and  a  few  hits  on  the,  upper  part  of  the  chest.  At 
both  knees  were  beads,  some  round,  some  tubular, 
each  about  half  an  inch  in  length.  At  each  ankle. 
on  the  outer  side,  was  a  deposit  of  small,  spherical 
pebbles  that  evidently  belonged  to  rattles.  A  small 
quantity  of  mica  lay  near  one  knee. 

A  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  back,  at  about 
the  same  depth  as  the  last,  had  near  the  head  a  drill- 
point  wrought  from  a  jasper  pebble,  and  a  disc  of 
metamorphic  gneiss  (Fig.  23).  7.S  inches  in  diame 
ter,  with  an  oblong  slab  of  sedimentary  rock.  4.75 
inches  broad  by  5.75  inches  long,  beside  it  (Fig.  24). 


FIG.  23.— Stone  disc.     Mound  C.     (Diameter  7.8  inches.) 


150 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


Resting  on  these  two  was  another  disc  of  metamorphic  gneiss,  of  the  same  diameter 
as  the  other.  The  whole  deposit  was  covered  with  decayed  wood.  The  discs,  some- 

*/ 

what  crushed,  have  been  repaired.  On  each  are  traces  of  pigment.  Neither  on 
these  discs  and  slabs  nor  on  any  others  found  by  us  at  Moundville  was  there  incised 
decoration  on  both  sides ;  and  on  neither  side  had  an  attempt  been  made  to  repre 
sent  figures. 


FIG.  24.— Stone  slab.     Mouud  ('. 
(Length  5.75  inches.) 


FIG.  25.— Vessel  No.  (i.     Mound  C. 
(Height  6.75  inches.) 


Another  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  back  lay  at  the  same  depth,  with  no 
artifacts  in  association;  and  not  far  distant,  at  a  somewhat  lower  level,  was  still 
another  burial  of  the  same  kind.  Near  the  skull  of  the  latter  were  fragments  of 
of  what  seemingly  had  been  a  Hat,  tapering  blade  of  sheet-copper,  with  the  point 
and  certain  other  parts  remaining  ;  also  bits  of  corroded  sheet-copper  belonging  to 
one  or  more  ornaments,  with  fragments  of  matting.  Nearby  was  a  thin,  even, 
oblong  layer,  of  small,  spherical  pebbles,  covering  a  space  8  by  10  inches  in  extent, 
enclosed  above  and  below  in  a  black  substance  decayed  beyond  recognition.  With 
these  pebbles,  was  a  diminutive  disc  of  earthenware  or  soft  clay-stone,  having  a  cir 
cular  marking  in  the  center  on  one  side. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  151 

At  52  and  5(1  indies  from  the  surface,  respectively,  were  a  bundi  of  loosely- 
spread  hones,  including  one  skull,  and  a  skull  lying  alone.  With  the  bunch  was  a 
small  quantity  of  mica. 

Vessel  No.  0  lay  in  fragments  in  the  wall  of  the  excavation  and  presumably 
belonged  to  human  remains  that  had  been  removed.  Pieced  together,  the  vessel 
proved  to  be  a  truncated  cone  in  shape  (Fig.  25). 


Fid.  26. — Ceremonial  axe  of  stone.     Mound  C.     (Length  6.5  inches.) 

When  the  great  excavation,  in  the  northeastern  part  of  which  lay  the  burials 
and  relics  we  have  just  described,  had  reached  a  depth  of  fi.5  feet,  a  change  in  the 
material  of  which  the  mound  was  composed  was  noted,  the  upper  part  having  been 
brown  and  red-brown  clay  with  an  admixture  of  sand  and  organic  matter  here  and 
there.  While  there  had  been  more  or  less  stratification  in  places  in  the  upper  part, 
the  material  in  the  main  was  homogeneous.  Below  this  level  of  6.5  feet  from  the 
surface,  the  mound  was  more  stratified,  and  the  clay  contained  much  less  sand  and 
was  of  various  shades  of  gray.  It  became  evident  that  we  had  reached  a  level 
which,  at  an  earlier  period,  had  been  part  of  a  summit  plateau  of  the  mound.  Con 
firming  this'  view,  various  pits  were  discovered,  each  extending  from  this  lower 
level  several  feet  down  into  the  mound.  In  two  of  these  pits  were  human  remains. 
In  one,  4.5  feet  below  this  lower,  or  original  plateau,  were  crowns  of  teeth  and  a 
line  of  bones  in  the  last  stage  of  decay.  In  another  pit,  5  feet  across  and  3-4  inches 
down  from  this  former  summit  plateau,  teeth  and  a  line  of  decayed  bones  again 
were  present.  A  number  of  similar  pits  were  noted  by  us,  but  either  the  bones 
had  entirely  disappeared  through  decay  or  the  fragments  were  so  small  that  they 
were  thrown  back  before  the  presence  of  the  pit  was  discovered.  One  pit,  with  a 
layer  of  decayed  bark  along  its  base,  was  disturbed  by  our  men  while  we  were 
absent  from  that  part  of  the  mound.  In  this  instance  bones  may  have  been 
present,  but  if  so  their  fragments  were  too  minute  to  attract  attention  in  the  dirt 
thrown  out. 

In  the  clay  taken  from  the  excavation  at  a  depth  of  about  8.5  feet  from  the 
second,  or  present,  summit  plateau  of  the  mound,  or  2  feet  below  the  lower  level, 
was  an  imitation  in  wood  copper-coated,  of  a  canine  of  a  large  carnivore,  with  a 
perforation  at  one  end  for  suspension.  This  ornament,  2.75  inches  in  length,  had 
been  wrapped  in  matting,  some  of  which  remained. 


15-2 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


At  a  depth  of  9.5  feet  from  the  upper  level,  or  3  feet  helow  the  lower  one, 
where  certain  pits  were,  was  an  interesting  ceremonial  axe  of  plutonic  rock,  with 
flaring  edge,  about  6.5  inches  in  length  (Fig.  2G).  This  axe,  which  much  resembles 
one  found  by  us  in  the  famous  mound  at  Mt.  Royal,  Florida,  had  red  oxide  of  iron 
adhering  to  it  at  one  place.  About  -J  inches  of  the  upper  part,  away  from  the 
blade,  where  the  handle  had  been,  was  not  polished  like  the  rest  of  the  implement, 
being  finished  more  or  less  in  the  rough. 

Perhaps  a  recapitulation  of  the  results  of  this  excavation  may  not  be  out  of 
place. 

We  have  here  a  mound  15.5  feet  high  at  the  central  part,  which  originally  had 
a  height  of  but  9  feet.  It  was  occupied  for  a  period  while  at  the  latter  level,  and 
burials  were  made  in  pits  dug  from  its  surface.  Later,  the  height  of  the  mound  was 
increased  by  6.5  feet,  and  the  summit  plateau  of  this  enlarged  mound  was  again 
used  locally  as  a  place  for  burials. 


n 


FIG.  27. — Ceremonial  axe  of  copper,  with  part  of  handle  in  place.     Mound  ('.     (Full  size.) 

It  was  evident  to  us  that  the  mound  had  undergone  but  two  stages  of  occu 
pancy,  as  there  were  no  change  in  the  material  below  the  lower  level  of  which  we 
have  spoken,  and  no  sign  of  a  pit  having  a  beginning  lower  than  this  level  1)  feet 
above  the  base. 

It  occurred  to  us,  as  a  point  of  interest,  carefully  to  note  the  earthenware  from 
the  lower  [tart  of  this  mound  in  order  to  learn  whether  or  not  a  difference  existed 
between  it  and  the  earthenware  found  above,  but  as  no  vessels  were  found  in  the 
original  mound,  and  as  but  two  small,  undecorated  sherds  were  obtained  by  our  men 
there,  means  for  comparison  were  wanting. 


154  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

Having  disposed  of  the  deep  excavation,  we  turned  our  attention  to  the 
northern  part  of  the  summit  plateau  of  the  mound  through  which  we  dug  to  a 
depth  of  fully  5  feet.  The  area  excavated,  as  before  said,  is  given  in  the  plan 
showing  the  great  excavation. 

All  burials,  so  far  as  could  be  determined,  were  in  pits  that  had  been  dug  from 
the  surface,  though  often,  on  account  of  aboriginal  disturbance,  the  exact  limits  of 
these  pits  could  not  be  traced. 

Four  feet  below  the  surface,  with  a  few,  soft  fragments  of  human  bone,  was  a 
ceremonial  axe  of  copper,  8  inches  long,  3  inches  across  the  blade,  and  1.75  to  2 
inches  broad  in  other  parts.  Remains  of  a  wooden  handle,  2  inches  in  width,  still 
adhere  to  the  metal,  showing  that  1  inch  of  the  implement  projected  behind  the 
handle  (Fig.  27).  C.  C.  Jones1  describes  a  somewhat  similar  axe  from  Georgia  and 
rightly  places  it  in  the  ceremonial  class,  calling  attention  to  its  light  weight  and 
delicate  structure. 

A  skeleton  complete  down  to.  and  including,  part  of  the  thorax  had,  under  the 
chin,  small  fragments  of  a  sheet-copper  ornament  that  had  been  encased  in  matting. 

Near  a  femur,  lying  alone,  was  a  considerable  number  of  tubular  shell  beads, 
each  somewhat  less  than  1  inch  in  length. 

At  a  depth  of  10  inches  from  the  surface  were  certain  scattered  human  bones 
near  a  small  pocket  of  fragments  of  calcined  bone,  also  human,  with  more  unburnt 
bones  beyond. 

A  skull  and  a  few  bones  in  disorder  lay  together.  With  the  skull  was  Vessel 
No.  7,  in  fragments,  and  a  small  cup  with  incised,  ribbon-fold  decoration,  resembling 
in  form  and  in  design  Vessel  No.  21  from  this  mound  and  Vessel  No.  15  from 
Mound  0. 

In  the  same  pit,  but  not  immediately  with  the  bones,  was  a  ceremonial  axe  of 
copper,  to  which  fragments  of  a  wooden  handle  still  adhered.  This  axe,  like  most 
copper  objects  found  in  the  mounds,  was  encased  in  decayed  material — wood,  in  this 
instance.  The  length  of  the  axe  is  C.4  inches;  it  is  1.5  inches  across  the  blade, 
and  1  inch  in  breadth  at  the  opposite  end.  The  breadth  of  the  space  covered  by 
the  handle  is  1.25  inches;  1.5  inches  of  the  axe  projected  behind  the  handle  (Fi<r. 
28  D). 

In  this  same  pit  lay  a  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  back.  At  each  side  of  the 
skull  was  an  ear-plug  of  the  ordinary  form,  made  of  wood,  coated  with  sheet-copper 
on  the  upper  surface.  The  companion  parts  of  these  ear-plugs,  which  were  worn 
behind  the  lobes  of  the  ears,  were  not  found  ;  presumably  they  had  been  made  of 
some  perishable  material.  Below  the  chin  was  an  ornament  of  sheet-copper  in  small 
fragments  which,  put  together,  form  in  part-  a  gorget  with  scalloped  margin,  having 
three  roughly  circular  lines  surrounding  a  swastika  defined  by  excised  portions 
(Fig.  29).  Near  the  skull  were  Vessels  Nos.  8  and  9,  both  crushed  to  fragments. 
Vessel  No.  8,  pieced  together,  bears  an  incised  design  several  times  found  by  us  at 

1  ''Antiquities  of  the  Southern  Indians,"  p.  226  et  seq. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.   BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


105 


Moundville  (Fig.  30).  Vessel  No.  '.',  repaired,  shows  an  incised  meander  around 
the  body  (Fig.  31). 

Near  a  dark  stain  in  the  soil,  which 
possibly  indicated  where  a  skeleton  had 
disappeared  through  decay,  was  a  pend 
ant  of  sheet-copper,  encased  in  decayed 
wood.  In  the  upper  part  are  excisions 
to  form  a  swastika,  and  an  excised  trian 
gle  below  (Fig.  32).  With  this  pendant 
were  small  fragments  of  another. 

In  a  pit  in  which  were  other  bones, 
apart  from  artifacts,  was  a  mass  of  galena 
about  the  si/.c  of  a  child's  fist,  with  frag 
ments  of  bone.  This  galena,  or  sulphide 
of  lead,  was  heavily  coated  with  carbonate 
of  lead,  which  could  readily  be  used  as 

»/ 

paint.  In  the  same  pit,  but  deeper,  lying  near  a  few  small  bits  of  skull,  was  a  disc, 
probably  of  fine-grained  gneiss,  16  inches  in  diameter,  without  decoration.  Nearby, 
above  the  disc,  were  small  fragments  of  sheet-copper  and  Vessel  No.  9a.  crushed  to 


Fl(i.  2!). — Part  of  sheet-copper  gorget.     Mound  C. 
(Full  si/e. ) 


FIG.  30.— Vessel  No.  8.     Mound  C.     (Height  7  inches.) 


150  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  31.— Vessel  No.  9.     Mound  C.     (Height  7  inches. 


FKI.  32. —  Pendant  of  sheet-copper. 
Mound  C.     (Full  size.) 


Fi<;.  33.— Ceremonial  axe  of  copper.     Mound  C.     (Length  13.75  inches.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  RK.MAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR   RIVER.  157 

small  fragments.  With  Vessel  No.  '.)<i  was  Vessel  No.  K).  also  in  fragments,  which, 
cemented  together,  proved  to  he  a  small,  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  with  a  scroll 
decoration  on  a  cross-hatch  field. 

Somewhat  more  than  4.5  leet  down  was  a  dark  line  in  the  soil,  perhaps  the 
last  trace  of  a  decayed  skeleton.  With  it.  together,  were  two  small  masses  of 
galena,  minute  fragments  of  sheet-copper,  and  a  neatlv  made  discoidal  stone  of 
(mart/..  2  inches  in  diameter. 

Slightly  more  than  a  foot  below  the  surface  was  a  small  deposit  of  fragments 
of  calcined  human  bones,  accompanied  with  a  little  charcoal  and  burnt  clay  in 
small  masses.  It  appeared  as  if  these  foreign  substances  had  been  gathered  up 
with  the  bones  at  the  place  of  cremation. 

Near  a  dark  line,  probably  left  by  decayed  bones,  was  a  ceremonial  axe  of 
copper,  13. 7-")  inches  long,  1.9  inches  across  the  flaring  blade,  and  .4  inch  wide  at 
the  opposite  end  (Fig.  oo).  This  implement,  encased  in  wood,  as  usual,  has  no 
handle  remaining  upon  it.  but  it  plainly  shows  where  a  handle  has  been,  with  part 
of  the  body  of  the  axe  behind  it. 

Scattered  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones,  with  part  of  one  nnburnt  bone 
among  them,  lay  '2  feet  from  the  surface. 

Remnants  of  a  skull  and  part  of  a  long-bone  lay  together;  with  them  were 
fragments  of  corroded  sheet-copper. 

Apparently  apart  from  human  remains  was  an  undecorated  but  gracefully 
shaped  water-bottle  (Vessel  No.  11).  which,  unfortunately,  received  a  blow  from  a 
spade. 

Four  feet  from  the  surface,  with  a  few  fragments  of  human  bone  and  many 
tubular  shell-beads,  each  slightly  less  than  an  inch  in  length,  was  the  remainder  of 
what  presumably  had  been  a  shell  drinking-cup.  Pieces  separated  through  decay 
lay  near  it.  The  large  fragment,  which  had  upon  it  parts  of  two  engraved  fighting 
figures,  received  a  blow  from  a  spade,  which,  however,  did  no  material  harm,  in;is- 
niuch  as  the  parts  separated  by  the  blow  had  lost  through  decay  all  trace  of 
engraving.  That  which  remains  of  the  engraved  design  shows  what  is  left  of  two 
lighting  figures.  Below,  a  figure  with  parts  of  the  trunk  missing,  as  well  as  the 
legs  and  the  lower  part  of  the  left  arm,  has  the  right  arm  upraised  to  strike  with  a 
weapon  of  some  kind — perhaps  a  war-club.  In  the  ear  of  this  figure  is  represented 
a  large  ear-plug,  and  ornaments,  probably  copper,  are  on  the  head.  The  second 
figure  is  represented  by  a  leg  and  part  of  a  foot.  An  unidentifiable  object,  but  per 
haps  the  handle  of  an  axe.  is  between  the  figures  (Fig.  34). 

Engraved  figures  on  shell,  of  the  same  class1  as  those  from  Moundville,  have 
been  found  in  Missouri,  in  Tennessee,  and  in  Georgia,  and  on  copper  in  Georgia. 

1  \\\  II.  Holmes,  "Art  in  Shell,"  Second  Rep.  Bur.  Etli.,  1880-81  ;  also  same  author  in  Smith. 
Misc.  Col.,  Vol.  XLV,  Quarterly  issue,  Vol.  I,  I't.  I. 

Thruston,  "Antiquities  of  Tennessee,"  2nd  ed.,  chap,  ix  and  supplement  to  chap.  ix. 
Thomas,  in  Fourth  Rep.  Bur.  Eth.,  1883-4,  p.  100  et  seq. 
See  also  Starr,  in  Proc.  Davenport  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  173  et  gen. 
Savillc,  in  Bnl.  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  N.  Y,  Vol.  XIII,  p.  99  et  seq. 


158 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


Incidentally,  it  may  l»e  said  that  the  statement  made  by  Doctor  Thomas  that  the 
famous  Etowah  plates  show  European  influence,  is  not  now  accepted  by  competent 
judges. 

With  a  lone  skull  was  a  beautiful,  little  bird  arrow-head,  of  transparent  quartz. 

Vessel  No.  12,  in  fragments,  was  found  away  from  human  remains,  though  in 
all  probability  bones  buried  with  it  had  disappeared  through  decay,  or  perhaps  the 


^  > 


FIG.  31. — Part  of  engraved  sliell.     Mound  C.     (Full  size.) 

vessel  had  been  cast  aside  in  an  aboriginal  disturbance.  This  vessel,  pieced  together, 
shows  a  series  of  central  crosses  and  a  cross-hatch  design  (Fig.  35).  Nearby  lay 
a  mass  of  galena  (lead  sulphide),  showing  many  facets  as  if  worked  down  for  a 
specific  purpose  (Fig.  30). 

Two  burials,  one  above  the  other,  which  had  been  skeletons  at  full  length,  as 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


15!) 


Fi(i.  35.— Vessel  No.  12.     Mound  C.     (Height  6.25  inches.) 


Fl«.  36. — Mass  of  sulphide  of  lead  showing  the  white  carhonate  used  for  paint.     Mound  C.     (Full  size.) 

indicated  by  fragments  of  bone  still  remaining,  had  each  a  number  of  shell  beads. 
A  bit  of  sheet-copper  lay  not  far  away. 

With  an  irregularly  bunched  burial  was  a  small  quantity  of  charcoal. 

Vessel  No.  13,  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  with  numerous  shallow  depres 
sions  surrounded  by  incised  line  decoration  (Fig.  37),  a  favorite  pattern  at  Mound- 
ville,  lay  apart  from  any  visible  trace  of  human  remains.  Near  where  the  vessel 
lay  was  an  interesting  fire-place  that  formed  the  base  of  the  pit  in  which  the  vessel 
was  found.  This  fire-place,  having  the  form  of  a  basin  11  inches  deep  and  40 
inches  in  diameter,  was  made  of  clay,  hardened  and  burnt  red  by  fire  to  a  thickness 
of  6  inches.  On  the  bottom  of  the  basin  was  a  quantity  of  gray  material  mingled 


100  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


Fl<i.  37.  —  Vessel  No.  13.     Mound  C.     (Height  (i  inches.) 

with  clay;  this  was  covered  with  a  black  substance  2.5  inches  thick,  possibly  de 
cayed  vegetable  mutter.  The  gray  material,  analy/ed  by  Dr.  II.  F.  Keller,  proved 
to  consist  "principally  of  carbonate  of  lime  with  admixed  sea-sand.  The  color,  a 
dirty  brownish,  is  due  to  a  hydrated  oxide  of  manganese,  of  which  the  mixture 
contains  a  very  notable  amount.  The  brown  specks  are  distinctly  visible  under  the 
magnifying  glass,  and  evolve  chlorine  from  hydrochloric  acid  when  the  material  is 
treated  with  this  solvent." 

Vessel  No.  14,  a  broad-mouthed 
water-bottle,  with  rude,  incised  scroll 
decoration,  lay  in  fragments,  apart  from 
human  remains. 

With  a  few  fragments  of  bones  of  a 
child  lay.  one  upon  the  other,  what  was 
left  by  decay  and  the  blow  of  a  spade,  of 
two  circular  sheet-copper  ornaments.  In 
the  center  of  each,  four  excised  spaces 
form  a  swastika.  On  one  of  the  discs  are 
rows  composed  of  many  small  pearls  re 
maining  as  when  strung  (Fig.  38). 

A    highly-polished    and    beautifully 


Flli-  ^- 


made  discoidal  stone  of  brown  and  white 

conglomerate,  presenting  a  striking  appearance,  lay  apart  from  human  remains. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


1G1 


With  no  bones  visible  nearby  were  Vessels  No.  14  a  and  No.  15,  in  fragments. 
Each  of  these  is  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle  with  a  decoration  common  at  Mound- 
ville,  having  depressions  in  the  body,  surrounded  by  incised  scroll-work. 

Forty-five  inches  below  the  surface  a  great  shell  drinking-cup  {Fulgur  per- 
versum),  13  inches  in  length,  was  found;  and  inverted  over  it  was  Vessel  No.  1C, 
a  bowl  with  beaded  margin,  somewhat  broken  when  unearthed.  In  the  shell  cup 
was  a  black  substance  in  which  was  a  splinter  of  bone,  probably  remains  of  food. 
We  found  similar  material  in  a  number  of  vessels  at  Moundville.  Nearby  was  a 
well-made  "celt"  of  volcanic  stone  and  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  (Vessel  No. 
17),  in  fragments.  This  vessel  (Fig.  39),  pieced  together,  bears  on  each  side  an 
incised  meander  surrounding  small,  shallow  depressions.  With  this  water-bottle 
was  a  coarse,  brown-ware  cooking  vessel,  with  two  loop-handles  (Vessel  No.  18). 


FIG.  39.— Vessel  No.  17.     Mound  C.     (Height  5.9  inches.) 

A  broken  shell  drinking-cup.  without  decoration,  lay  apart  from  bones,  so  far 
as  we  could  determine. 

About  4  feet  below  the  surface  were  a  few  human  teeth,  probably  all  that 
remained  of  an  entire  skeleton.  Beneath  the  teeth,  where  the  neck  bad  been, 
was  part  of  a  pendant  of  much  corroded  sheet-copper,  similar  to  one  already 
illustrated  (Fig.  32),  as  coming  from  this  mound.  At  each  side  of  the  place  where 
the  head  had  been  was  an  ear-plug  of  ordinary  type,  consisting  of  a  disc  of  wood 
with  sheet-copper  on  the  outer  side  (Fig.  40).  The  parts  which,  placed  behind 

21  JOURX.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA..  VOL.  XIII. 


10-2  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK- WARRIOR  RIVER. 

the  lobes  of  the  ears,  held  these  ornaments  in  place,  were  not  found,  hence  it  is  pre 
sumed  they  had  been  entirely  of  wood. 

With  some  fragments  of  badly  decayed  bone  was  a  ceremonial  axe  of  copper, 
with  part  of  the  wooden  handle  still  remaining  upon  it  in  fairly  good  condition,  the 
wood  maintaining  a  rounded  surface.  The  length  of  this  axetis  5.75  inches;  width 
of  blade,  '1  inches.  The  blade  projected  .25  of  an  inch  behind  the  handle  (Fig. 
28  F).  Above  this  implement  was  a  copper-coated  bead  of  shell,  somewhat  broken. 

A  ceremonial  axe  of 
copper  fell  with  caved  mate 
rial.  Length,  7.8  inches ; 
width  of  blade,  3.2  inches 
(Fig.  28  C).  In  the  neigh 
borhood  from  which  the  axe 
fell  were  fragments  of  what 
had  been  a  large  breast-piece 
of  sheet-copper.  Unfortu 
nately  the  badly  corroded 

Fit;. -10. — Wooden  ear-plugs,  copper-coated.     Mound  C.     (Full  size.)  c    ,1  ,    \  i      i    j 

state  of  the  metal  precluded 
any  chance  of  recovering  this  ornament  save  in  very  minute  fragments. 

Somewhat  below  scattered  fragments  of  bone  in  a  pit,  with  bits  of  much  de 
cayed  skeletal  remains,  were  parts  of  what  probably  had  been  a  hair-ornament  of 
shest-coppar,  similar  to  one  to  bo  described  in  connection  with  Burial  No.  37  in 
this  mound.  With  the  fragments  of  this  ornament  was  what  Pro!'.  F.  A.  Lucas 
kindlv  has  identified  as  a  strip  of  bison-horn.  This  material  readily  could  have 
taken  the  place  of  a  pin  of  bone.  A  similar  strip  of  bison-horn  lay  with  the  hair- 
ornament  near  Burial  No.  37. 

Near  the  ceremonial  axe  and  the  breast-piece,  but  not  with  them,  occurred  a 
dark  line  in  the  soil,  probably  all  that  remained  of  a  human  skeleton.  On  this 
line  was  a  ceremonial  axe  of  copper,  about  9.(>  inches  long  and  2.25  inches  across 
the  miring  blade  (Fig.  28  B).  On  the  cutting  edge  is  a  series  of  nicks,  or  tally- 
marks,  similar  to  those  so  often  found  on  ceremonial  objects.  If  farther  proof 
were  needed  to  assign  these  copper  axes  to  the  ceremonial  class,  these  notches  along 
the  edge  of  the  blade  certainly  would  supply  the  deficiency. 

Vessels  Nos.  19  and  20,  small,  undecorated,  broad-mouthed  water-bottles,  lay 
together,  with  no  bones  remaining  in  association. 

A  small  deposit  of  fragments  of  calcined  human  bone  lay  18  inches  from  the 
surface. 

We  now  come  to  Burial  No.  37.  a  most  noteworthy  one.  Forty  inches  below 
the  surface  was  a  dark  line,  doubtless  marking  the  former  presence  of  a  skeleton. 
Near  the  eastern  extremitv  of  this  line  were  a  few  human  teeth  and  part  of  a  lower 

t/ 

jaw.  Assuming  that  this  black  line  was  almost  the,  last  trace  of  a  skeleton  that 
once  lay  at  full  length  on  its  back,  heading  eastward  (an  assumption  borne  out  by 
the  position  of  the  jaw  and  by  finding  the  lower  ends  of  the  tibia*  and  fibula'  at  a 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK   WARRIOR  RIVER. 


1G3 


proper  distance  therefrom),  we  can  say  with  reasonable  accuracy  where  the  objects 
found  with  this  burial  had  been  placed  originally. 

Forty-live  globular  beads  of  wood,  copper-coated,  each  about  1.1  inch  in 
diameter  were  around  the  ankles,  the  bones  of  which  were  preserved  by  the  pres 
ence  of  the  copper.  With  these  beads  were  a  few  perforated  pearls,  the  si/.e  of  a 
pea  and  smaller. 

Across  the  knees  was  a  ceremo 
nial  axe  of  copper,  about  11.5  inches 
in  length  and  1.9  inches  across  the 
flaring  blade  (Fig.  28  A). 

At  each  wrist  were  sixteen  copper- 
coated  beads  similar  to  the  others. 

At  the  lower  part  of  the  chest, 
the  broad  end  with  two  perforations 
for  suspension  being  toward  the  head, 
was  a  pendant  of  sheet-copper,  about 
G.75  inches  in  length,  with  excised 
parts  forming  a  swastika  and  having  a 
triangle  cut  out  from  the  copper  below 
(Fig.  41). 

On  the  chest,  below  the  chin,  were 
two  gorgets  of  sheet-copper,  one  lying 
on  the  other.  The  larger  (Fig.  4l>), 
roughly  circular,  was  uppermost.  The 
smaller  (Fig.  43),  an  eight-pointed  star 
within  a  circle,  still  has  cord  in  two 
perforations  made  for  suspension.  Be 
low  the  chin  was  a  number  of  small 
perforated  pearls,  badly  decayed  ;  and 
parts  of  several  strings  of  pearls  ad 
hered  to  the  larger  gorget. 

Under  the  head  was  a  curious 
object  of  copper  (Fig.  44),  doubtless  a 
hair-ornament,  14.5  inches  in  length, 
Hat.  pointed  at  each  end,  with  a  maxi 
mum  width  of  .6  of  an  inch. 

At  the  left  side  of  the  head  was  a 
curious  hook-shaped  ornament  (Fig. 
45),  with  a  strip  of  bison-horn,  which, 
presumably,  had  taken  the  place  of  a 

,•    i  mi          i  i     •  FIG.  41. — Pendant  of  sheet-copper.    Mound  C.     Full  size.) 

pin  of    bone.      This   hair-ornament  is 

similar  to  one  found  with  another  burial  in  Mound  C. 

But  the  gem  of  the  objects  worn  by  this  important  personage  who,  perhaps,  at 


104 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  42. — Gorget  of  sheet-copper.    Mound  C.     (Full  size.) 

one  time  owned  the  great  mound  wherein  he  now  figures  as  Burial  No.  37,  is  an 
effigy  of  a  human  head  (Fig.  40),  which  lay  with  the  gorgets  on  the  chest  and, 
possibly,  formed  a  center-piece  to  the  annular  one.  This  interesting  little  gem, 
carved  from  amethyst  and  perforated  behind  for  attachment,  is  shown  in  four  posi 
tions  in  Fig.  47. 

Aboriginal  work  in  amethyst  is  uncommon.  We  found  a  beautifully  made  pen 
dant  of  amethystine  quartz  in  the  rich  mound  at  Crystal  river,  Florida;  and  inves 
tigation  under  supervision  of  Mr.  Warren  K.  Moorehead  resulted  in  the  discovery 
of  a  pendant  of  amethyst,  somewhat  more  rudely  made  than  ours,  in  southern 
Indiana. 

Mr.  George  F.  Kun/.,  who  is  so  familiar  with  gems  and  hard  stones,  writes  of 
this  amethyst  head:  "The  drilling  was  undoubtedly  done  by  no  other  agents 
than  quartz,  either  with  a  stick  or  a  hollow  reed  ;  and  the  sawings  by  drawing  a 
string  or  a  thong  across  the  object,  using  sand  as  an  abrasive,  possibly  wet.  The 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  165 


FIG.  43.— Gorget  of  sheet-copper.     Mound  C.     (Full  size.) 


Fin.  4<>.— Amethvst  head. 
Mound  ('.     (Full  size.) 


FIG.  44.— Hair-ornament  of  copper.     Mound  C. 
(One-third  size.) 


FIG.  45.  — Hair-ornament  of  sheet-copper. 
Mound  C.     (Full  size.] 


106 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


grooving  and  notching  were  apparently  done  partly  with  a  narrow  bit  of  hard 
mineral,  or  by  means  of  sticks,  the  parties  using  sand  again  as  an  abrasive,  which 
was  pushed  or  rubbed  into  the  spot  to  be  worked  upon." 

This  ends  the  list  of  objects  found  with  Burial  No.  37,  with  the  exception  of 
a  black  material  in  the  soil  nearby,  which  was  submitted  for  analysis  to  Dr.  H.  F. 
Keller  who  writes  :  "  The  material  you  sent  me  yesterday  is  a  typical  specimen  of 
mineral  pitch.  It  gives  all  the  characteristic  reactions  of  asphaltum,  and  contains 
2.65  per  cent,  of  mineral  matter." 

Asphalt  is  found  in  Alabama.1 

Vessel  No.  21.  a  cup  in  fragments,  since  put  together,  has  incised  decoration 
showing  the  ribbon-fold  design  (Fig.  48). 

But  one  burial  in  the  mound  was  found  at  a  depth  of  5  feet,  although  a  number 
were  4.5  feet  and  4  feet  from  the  surface.  In  addition  to  burials  particularly  de 
scribed,  eight  bunches  or  aboriginal  disturbances  were  met  with,  having  no  arti 
facts  in  association.  There  were  present  in  the  mound,  away  from  human  remains, 
fragments  of  sheet-copper  in  two  places  and  one  bird-arrowpoint  of  quart/.. 

With  a  full-length  burial  the  number  of  which  is  not  given  in  our  field  notes, 
were  two  shells  (Tulotoma  magnified}.  We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  II.  A.  Pilsbry  and 
to  Mr.  E.  G.  Vanatta,  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  for  all  determinations 
of  shells  given  in  this  report  and  in  the  three  other  reports  in  this  volume. 


Fie;.  47.— Amethyst  effigy  of  head.     Four  positions.     Mound  C.     (Full  size.) 


FIG.  48. — VesseljXo.  21.     Mound  C.     [Diameter  of  body  3.8  inches.) 

1  "Asphaltum  in  1893."     U.  S.  Geological  Survey.     Extract  from  "Mineral  Resources  of  the 
United  States,  Calendar  Year,  1893."     Washington,  1894. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER, 

(iliOUXI)    NoKTHKAST    OK    MofXI)    C. 


1U7 


Directly  northeast  ol'  Mound  C  is  a  plot  of  wooded  ground  having  the  mound 
as  a  base,  a  deep  gullv  on  one  side,  and  the  river  hlull'  on  the  other. 

A  certain  amount  of  digging  was  done  in  this  ground,  first  near  the  end 
farthest  from  the  mound,  and  afterward  not  far  from  the  base  of  Mound  C,  resulting 
in  the  discovery  of  thirty  burials  of  the  same  general  form  as  those  we  have 
minutely  described  in  the  account  of  Mound  C. 

The  artifacts  found  with  these  burials  seemed  to  indicate  that  their  former 
owners  had  belonged  to  a  class  less  prosperous  than  was  represented  by  remains 
found  by  us  in  other  places  of  burial  at  Moundville.  No  copper  was  met  with,  and 
in  many  cases  cooking  pots  of  coarse  ware  were  used  as  burial  accompaniments. 
Where  vessels  of  other  forms  we1  re  found  they  were  undecorated  as  a  rule,  and 
when  decoration  was  present  it  was  often  of  inferior  execution. 


Fl(i.  4!).— Vessel  Xo.  1.     Ground  XK.  of  .Mound  C. 
(Diameter  4.8  inches.) 


Flc;.  50. — Vessel  No.  3.     G ron nil  XK.  of  Mound  C. 
(Diameter  o'  inches.) 


A  skeleton  flexed  on  the  right  side  had  mica,  and  shell  beads  at  each  wrist, 

The  skulls  of  t\vo  infants  lay  together  without  the  other  bones,  which,  owing 
to  their  extremely  delicate  condition,  may  have  been  thrown  back  unobserved  by 
our  diggers.  Near  these  skulls  were  two  small  pots,  Vessels  Nos.  1  and  2,  of  coarse, 
unblackened  ware,  both  having  loop-handles. — Vessel  No.  1  having  had  nine 
originally  (Fig.  49). 

The  skeleton  of  a  child,  cut  off  at  the  pelvis  by  aboriginal  disturbance,  had 
near  the  head  Vessel  No.  •!. — a  pot  of  coarse,  red  ware,  with  two  loop-handles 
(Fig.  50). 

A  skeleton  lying  at  full  length  on  the  back  had  near  the  head  an  undecorated, 
broad-mouthed  water-bottle  (Vessel  No.  4).  and  a  large  fragment  of  another  vessel. 
Shell  beads  were  at  the  neck,  the  left  wrist,  and  at  both  ankles. 

In  a  pit  4  feet  below  the  surface,  was  the  skeleton  of  an  infant,  extended  on 
the  back,  surrounded  bv  almost  pure  clay,  while  the  soil  at  this  place  had  a  large 


108  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  51.— Vessel  No.  6.     Ground  NE.  of  Mound  C.     (Diameter  7.G  inches. 


Fi<;.  52.— Vessel  No.  9.     Ground  NE.  of  Mound  C.     (Height  8.1  inches.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


Kill 


admixture  of  sand.  At  the  head  of  the  skeleton  were  two  large  sherds,  one  on  the 
other,  each  carefully  worked  to  an  elliptical  outline. 

Vessel  No.  5  lay  apparently  unassociated  with  human  remains  and  crushed  to 
fragments.  After  the  parts  were  cemented  together  the  vessel  proved  to  have  a 
broad,  short  handle  projecting  horizontally  from  one  side.  The  decoration,  rather 
coarsely  done,  is  a  variety  of  scroll  in  a  field  of  cross-hatch. 

In  a  pit,  where  a  number  of  burials  were,  lay  two  vessels  (Nos.  0  and  7)  near 
the  lower  part  of  a  skeleton,  the  upper  part  of  which  doubtless  had  been  cut  away 
in  placing  a  burial  at  a  lower  level.  Vessel  No.  G,  a  small  bowl  of  inferior,  black 


FIG.  53.— Vessel  No.  9.     Ground  NE.  of  Mound  C.     (Ileight  6  inches.) 
22  JOUEN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XIII. 


170 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


ware  with  incised  decoration  of  the  ribbon-fold  design,  had  a  rudely  imitated  head 
of  an  animal  looking  inward  and  a  conventional  tail  at  the  opposite  side  of  the 
bowl  (Fig.  51).  Vessel  No.  7.  a  pot  of  coarse,  black  ware,  had  two  loop-handles 
with  two  small  knobs  on  each.  In  the  general  disturbance  in  this  pit  these  pots 
presumably  had  been  shifted  from  a  position  near  the  head  of  a  skeleton. 


FIG.  54. — Vessel  Xo.  9.     Decoration.     Ground  NE.  of  Mound  C.     (About  half  size.) 

Vessel  No.  8,  badly  crushed,  lay  apart  from  human  remains.  Put  together,  it 
proved  to  be  a  beautiful  jar  of  highly  polished  ware.  The  decoration  is  made  up 
of  scrolls,  depressions,  and  incised  encircling  lines  (Fig.  52). 

Vessel  No.  9  (Fig.  53),  with  incised  design,  somewhat  similar  to  others  shown 
before,  has,  in  addition,  a  representation  of  fingers  projecting  downward,  as  shown 
in  diagram  in  Fig.  54.  The  cross  and  cross-hatch  design  are  shown  four  times  on 
this  vessel,  as  are  the  downturned  fingers.  This  vessel  lay,  unconnected  with  any 
burial,  in  a  pit  where  there  had  been  much  aboriginal  disturbance. 

Near  the  skull  of  a  burial  lay 
a  pot,  Vessel  No.  10,  of  coarse,  red- 
yellow  ware,  with  four  loop-han 
dles  (Fig.  5-3),  and  Vessel  No.  11, 
a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  (Fig. 
50)  bearing  on  each  of  two  sides  an 
incised  design  consisting  of  a  cen 
tral  symbol,  to  which  is  attached, 
at  each  side,  the  triangular  tail  of 
the  woodpecker,  with  its  pointed, 
individual  leathers,  shown  dia- 
grammatically  in  Fig.  57. 

At  the  heads  of  two  skeletons 
lying  at  full  length,  side  by  side. 

Km.  55.  —  Vessel  N'n.  10.      <i  round  XK.  of  Mound  (,'.  TT  i   XT       i  ii  c 

(Diameter  5.75  inches.)  WJIS   \  CSSel  JNO.  1^,  a   pot  ol  COUPSC, 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  171 

unblackened  ware  with  seven   loop-handles,  and  Vessel  No.  13.  a  small   howl  with 
uiuleco  rated  hodvand  a  rudely  imitated  animal  head  looking  inward  above  the  rim. 
Beneath  the  skull  of  an  infant  lav  a  hinre  slab  of  limonite. 


FIG.  56.— Vessel  No.  11.     Ground  NK.  of  Mound  ('.     (Height  7.4  inches.) 


FIG.  57. — Vessel  No.  11.     Decoration.     Gronnd  NE.  of  Mound  C.     (About  half  size.) 


172  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

On  the  chest  of  the  skeleton  of  an  adult,  lying  at  full  length  on  the  hack,  was 
a  gorget  of  shell,  thickly  coated  with  patina  ami  with  a  deposit  from  the  surrounding 
clay  and  sand.  This  gorget,  bearing  a  complicated  design  on  one  side,  after  an 
unsuccessful  effort  on  our  part  to  clean  it.  was  entrusted  to  experts  who,  though 
removing  the  accumulated  material  to  a  certain  extent,  were  unable  to  make  clear 
the  design. 

Forty-six  inches  below  the  surface  lay  a  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  back,  as 
usual,  having  shell  beads  at  the  neck,  and  at  the  shoulder  a  slab  of  sedimentary 
rock,  9.5  inches  by  14  inches  by  1.1  inch  thick.  This  slab,  carefully  dressed  on  all 
sides  but  one,  Avhere  two  deep  grooves,  front  and  back,  show  how  it  was  separated 
from  another  portion,  has  for  its  only  decoration  two  incised,  parallel  lines  at  each 
end  on  one  side.  On  this  slab  are  remains  of  red  and  of  white  pigment. 

Vessel  No.  14.  a  cooking  pot  of  coarse,  yellow-brown  ware,  lay  near  several 
cervical  vertebrae  in  a  pit  where  great  aboriginal  disturbance  had  taken  place. 

Near  decaying  fragments  of  a  skull  was  found  Vessel  No.  15,  an  undecorated, 
broad-mouthed  water-bottle. 

Apart  from  human  remains,  singly,  were  several  fragments  of  "  celts  ;  "  one 
small  disc  of  stone;  several  discs  wrought  from  bits  of  pottery;  slabs  of  stone; 
hammer-stones;  a  circular  stone  doubly  pitted;  mica  in  a  number  of  places;  a 
piercing  implement  of  bone  with  the  articular  portion  remaining;  a  part  of  a 
smoking-pipe  of  coarse  earthenware,  with  rough  incised  lines  on  two  opposite  sides. 
It  is  worthy  of  remark  how.  in  northwestern  Florida  and  westward  along  the  Gulf,  as 

•/ 

well  as  in  the  middle  Mississippi  district  as  pointed  out  by  Holmes,1  where  pottery 
vessels  are  of  such  excellent  ware  and  of  such  variety  of  form  and  decoration,  we 

v 

find  pipes  of  the  same  material  so  inferior  in  ware  and  characterized  by  such  uniform 
want  of  originality  as  to  shape  and  ornamentation. 

As  we  shall  have  occasion  to  refer  to  the  finding  of  a  number  of  pipes  at 
Moundville,  we  may  say  here  that  we  fully  share  Professor  Holmes'  belief2  "that 
the  pipe  was  in  use  in  America  on  the  arrival  of  Europeans,"  and  the  more  the 
mounds  are  investigated,  the  more  forcibly  is  this  belief  corroborated. 

MOUXD   I). 

Mound  D,  with  a  summit  plateau  measuring  approximately  GO  feet  by  90  feet, 
yielded  to  our  trial-holes  dark,  disturbed  soil  and  burials  in  the  middle  half  of  the 
eastern  side  and  in  the  northern  part  of  the  western  side.  Therefore,  we  deemed 
it  advisable  to  dig  out  the  northern  part  of  the  plateau,  to  the  depth  of  from  3  to 
4  feet,  where  the  loamy  soil  ended  and  more  solid  clay  began.  The  area  dug  through 
by  us  and  the  parts  in  which  burials  proved  to  be  are  shown  in  the  plan  (Fig.  58). 
Ten  trial-holes  were  sunk  into  the  southern  half  of  the  mound  without  material 
result. 

There  were  present  in  the  soil,  apart  from   human  remains  (though  bones  with 

1  "Aboriginal  Pottery  of  Eastern  United  States,"  20tli  An.  Kep.  Bur.  Am.  Eth.,  p.  83. 
'  Ojj.  fit.,  p.  -15. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  RK.MAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


173 


which  they  mav  have  IK-CM  perhaps  had  decayed  away  or  muv  have-  been  distuibtd 

*-  *•  »,  J  *, 

by  other  burials),  the  following :  A  .small  amount  of  sheet-copper  of  about  the  con 
sistency  of  moistened  bread-crust;  other  bits  of  sheet-copper ;  a  small  amount  of 
sheet-copper  in  another  place;  a  pipe  of  very  coarse  earthenware,  rudely  made, 
round  in  horizontal  section,  with  Muring  rim  (Fig.  59);  two  roughly  made  discoidal 
stones  and  one  more  neatly  rounded  ;  one  disc  of  pottery  ;  a  small,  roughly  made 


N        1 
Flo.  5S. — Plan  of  excavation.     Mound  I). 


FKI.  59. — Pipe  of  earthenware.     Mound  D.     (Full  size.) 


"celt"  ;  a  "celt"  of  greenstone  or  kindred  rock,  with  cutting  edge  at  either  end, 
and  beveled  (Fig.  GO);  a  slab  of  ferruginous  sedimentary  rock,  oval  in  out 
line;  and  a  barrel-shaped  bead,  probably  of  resin.  1 .75  inches  in  length.  Doctor 
Keller,  who  analyzed  part  of  this  bead,  found  it  to  be  *' a  resin  which,  though  in 
some  respects  resembling  amber,  is  not  fossili/.ed.  The  interior  is  perfectly  clear  and 
almost  colorless.  The  specific  gravity  is  1.091;  it  softens  at  about  150°  C.,  but 
does  not  melt  until  heated  to  above  300°.  It  is  strongly  electrified  by  friction. 
Unlike  amber,  it  is  largely  soluble  in  alcohol  and  other  solvents.  On  burning  it 
leaves  very  little  ash,  containing  oxide  of  iron." 

In  addition  to  the  usual  dwelling-site  debris,  hones,  hammers,  pitted  stones, 
etc.,  there  were  present:  a  small  quantity  of  rather  coarse,  shell-tempered  ware  in 
fragments,  one  sherd  having  projecting  from  its  rim  the  head  of  a  frog,  rudely  rep 
resented  ;  three  pointed  implements  of  bone  and  one  less  pointed,  perhaps  used  in 
basketry ;  and  a  bone,  kindly  identified  by  Prof.  F.  A.  Lucas,  as  having  belonged  to 
a  swan. 

Eighteen  inches  from  the  surface,  with  no  human  bones  remaining  nearby, 
completely  inclosed  in  decayed  wood,  was  a  ceremonial  axe  of  copper.  14.25  inches 
in  length,  with  Murinir  cutting  edsre  1.5  inches  broad,  varying  in  breadth  between 

•.'  t_? 

.5  inch  and  I  inch,  with  a  maximum  thickness  of  .4  inch  where  there  is  a  kind  of 
offset  made  by  the  hammering  of  the  copper.  Part  of  a  wooden  handle  still  adheres 
to  the  metal  (Fisr.  Gl). 


174  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  60.— "Celt."     Mound  D.      Full  size. 


FIG.  61. — Ceremonial  axe  of  copper.     Mound  D 
(Length  14.25  inches.) 


FIG.  62. — Vessel  No.  4.     Mound  D.     (Diameter  4.75  inches.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  AVARRIOR  RIVER. 


175 


With  the  skeleton  of  a.  child,  cut  oil'  below  the  pelvis,  doubtless  an  aboriginal 
disturbance,  was  a  mussel-shell  (Lampsilis  rectus}.  much  worn  at  one  end  as  if  by 
use. 

From  2  to  3  feet  below  the  surface,  covering  a  considerable  area,  was  a  deposit 
of  bones,  including  eleven  skulls.  With  this  deposit,  at  its  southern  margin,  were 
Vessels  Nos.  1  and  2, — a  small,  undecorated  water-bottle  of  coarse  material,  and  a 
small  bowl  with  rude,  incised-line  decoration  below  the  rim,  having  an  upright 
head,  seemingly  that  of  a  dog.  looking  inward.  Farther  along  in  this  deposit  were 
three  vessels  (Nos.  10,  11  and  12),  which  will  be  described  in  their  proper  order. 

With  a  burial  represented  by  crowns  of  teeth  alone  was  an  ornament  of  badly 
corroded  sheet-copper,  and  a  water-bottle  (Vessel  No.  3),  with  incised  decoration 
consisting  of  the  open  hand  with  the  open  eye  upon  it,  six  times  repeated.  The 
neck  of  this  bottle  was  not  recovered. 

In  a  pit  was  a  skeleton  at  full  length  on  its  back,  having  shell  beads  near  the 
head  and  at  one  wrist.  Crushed  to  fragments,  near  this  skull,  was  Vessel  No.  4.  a 
bowl  of  black  ware  that  has  since  been  put  together  (Fig.  62),  having  upon  it  an 
engraved  design  representing  three  human  skulls,  one  inverted,  with  three  human 
hands  alternating  with  them,  two  pointing  downward,  one  upward.  On  each  hand 
is  the  open  eye  (Fig.  63).  An  especially  curious  feature  in  respect  to  the  skulls  is 
that  the  articular  part  of  the  lower  jaw.  or  possibly  the  whole  ramus,  is  represented 
as  projecting  beyond  the  base  of  the  skull.  Later  in  this  report  we  shall  have 
something  farther  to  say  on  this  point. 


FIG.  63.— Vessel  No.  4.     Decoration.     Mound  I).     (About  half  size.) 

In  the  same  pit  was  another  skeleton  lying  at  full  length,  face  downward, 
having  a  sheet-copper  ear-plug  and  shell  beads  near  the  skull.  On  a  clavicle  was 
the  lower  part  of  what  was  probably  a  sheet-copper  pendant  with  a  repousse  eye 
upon  it,  somewhat  similar  to  those  found  in  Mound  H  at  Moundville. 

About  three  feet  from  the  surface  was  a  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  back, 
having  at  the  legs  Vessel  No.  5.  crushed  flat.  This  vessel,  pieced  together  (Fig. 
64),  shows  an  incised  decoration  consisting  of  fingers  and  conventionalized  bodies 
with  a  tail  of  a  bird  projecting  from  each  side.  In  the  soil  about  6  inches  above 
the  pelvis  of  the  same  skeleton  was  a  disc  of  metamorphic  gneiss,  10.25  inches  in 
diameter,  in  an  upright  position,  having  a  scalloped  margin  and  two  concentric 
circles  incised  below  it  on  one  side  (Fig.  65).  The  customary  paint  was  present. 
The  position  of  this  disc  seemed  to  indicate  that  it  had  been  thrown  back  after  an 


L76 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


aboriginal  disturbance  and,  presumably,  the  vessel  found  near  the  legs  of  the 
skeleton  had  been  thrown  there  at  the  same  time.  At  the  head  of  the  same  skeleton 
was  Vessel  No.  6,  crushed  flat  into  bits,  and  Vessel  No.  7,  an  undecorated  bowl  with 
inverted  rim,  badly  broken,  and  containing  another  bowl  (Vessel  No.  8)  with  scal 
loped  projections  around  the  margin. 

Vessel  No.  G,  since  repaired  and  the  missing  parts  restored,  has  for  decoration, 
on  two  opposite  sides,  the  woodpecker,  with  two  heads,  one  pointing  upward,  the 
other  downward,  and  a  tail  projecting  from  the  common  body  at  each  side.  No 
speech  symbols  are  represented  as  leaving  the  open  bill,  nor  is  the  tongue  extended. 

Three  skeletons  lay  radiating  from  a  common  center  represented  by  the  skulls. 
Two  of  these  skeletons  lay  at  full  length  on  the  back;  the  other  had  the  upper 
part  of  the  trunk  lying  on  the  back,  but  was  turned  on  the  left  side  from  the  pelvis 
downward.  The  left  humerus  of  the  last  skeleton  showed  a  former  break  with 
considerable  bending  of  the  bone  and  development  of  new  tissue.  This  specimen 
was  sent  to  the  Armv  Medical  Museum  at  Washington. 


Fid.  64.  — Vessel  No.  5.     Mound  D.     (Height  5.5  inches.) 

With  part  of  a  skeleton,  including  bones  from  the  dorsal  vertebra1  downward, 
was  Vessel  No.  9,  a  small,  undecorated  pot  of  very  coarse  ware,  with  two  loop- 
handles. 

A  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  back  had  three  shell  beads  of  medium  size  at 
one  ankle. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


r 


A  rough,  discoidal  stone  lay  near  the  skeleton  of  a  child,  extended  on  the  back. 

The  skeleton  of  an  adolescent,  in  a  similar  position,  had  with  it  a  number  of 
fresh-water  shells  of  the  following  kinds  :  Obovaria  circulus,  Onadrula  cbena,  Q. 
stapes,  Q.  pernodosa,  Unio  congaraius,  Obliquaria  reflexa,  Truncilla  poiita. 

Near  the  fartlier  extremity  of  the  large  deposit  of  bones  of  which  we  have 
spoken  were  Vessel  No.  10,  a  small,  undecorated,  wide-mouthed  water-bottle; 


FIG.  65. — Stone  disc.     Mound  I).     ^Diameter  10.25  inches.) 
23  JOURN".  A.  N.  S.  PHILA..  VOL.  XIII. 


178  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER, 

Vessel  No.  11.  a  small,  undecorated  howl;  and  Vessel  No.  12,  a  water-bottle,  also 
small  and  undecorated. 

In  addition  to  the  Imrials  already  described,  there  were  in  the  mound,  without 
artifacts  : 

Skeletons  full  length  on  back,  one  of  an  adolescent — 8. 

Skeleton  at  full  length,  face  down — 1. 

Scattered  deposits  of  bones — 2. 

Aboriginal  disturbances — 5. 

Infant  skeletons,  badlv  decayed,  two  side  bv  side — 4. 

J  •,'  t/ 

There  were  also  instances  when1  bones  had  been  widely  scattered  in  pits  over 
burials.  In  one  case  the  bones  of  a  child  were  mingled  with  the  soil  that  filled  a 
pit,  on  the  bottom  of  which  lay  a  skeleton. 

FIELD  NORTH  OF  MOUND  D. 

A  short  distance  north  of  Mound  D  is  a  cultivated  field,  about  two  acres  in 
extent,  having  rising  ground,  artificially  made,  on  the  northern  and  southern  ex 
tremities,  and  dark  soil  such  as  is  found  in  dwelling  sites.  We  were  guided  to  this 
field  (marked  W  on  the  surve}-)  by  a  colored  man  who  sold  to  us  a  disc  of  meta- 
morphic  gneiss,  7.25  inches  in  diameter  (Fig.  66),  which  he  said  he  had  ploughed 
up  at  that  place. 

Two  days  were  devoted  by  us  to  this  field,  with  a  digging  force  averaging  six 
teen  men.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  field  alone  were  artifacts  discovered,  with 
the  exception  of  one  shell  bead. 

Burials  ranged  in  depth  from  superficial  to  4.5  feet.  Those  near  the  surface 
lay  iu  the  dark  soil  that  covered  the  field,  made  up  of  sand,  clay,  and  the  remains 
of  organic  matter.  The  deeper  burials  were  in  pits  extending  into  yellow  sand  in 
places,  into  vellow  clav  in  others,  which  underlay  the  artificial  soil  that  had  accu- 

«/  »/  *> 

mulated  during  and  since  the  use  of  the  field  as  an  aboriginal  place  of  abode.  Other 
pits  present  in  the  field,  including  one  6  feet  deep,  contained  no  human  remains. 

In  the  southern  end  of  the  field  were  : 

Bunched  burials — 2. 

Skeletons  flexed  on  the  right  side — 3. 

Skeletons  flexed  on  the  left  side — 3. 

Skeleton  closely  flexed  on  the  left  side — 1. 

Skeletons  at  full  length  on  the  back — 15. 

Skeleton  of  an  infant,  badly  decayed — 1. 

Skeleton  of  a  child,  badly  decayed — 1. 

In  addition,  there  were  recent  disturbances  rising  from  cultivation  of  the  soil, 
aboriginal  disturbances,  and  many  scattered  bones  whose  form  of  burial  we  were 
unable  to  classify. 

On  the  surface  and  in  the  dark  soil  of  the  dwelling  site  were  many  pebbles; 
pebble-hammers  ;  sandstone  hones ;  pitted  stones,  triangular  as  a  rule ;  and  frag 
ments  of  coarse  earthenware,  many  having  loop-handles.  There  were  present,  also, 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  I5LACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


179 


drills;  discs  made  from  earthenware  vessels;  several  bird-arrowheads  of  jasper  and 
one  of  quart/  ;  three  rough  arrowheads  or  knives,  one  of  chert ;  and  a  long,  slender 
arrowhead  of  jasper. 

Near  certain  loose  bones  were  a  mass  of  limonite  and  an  implement  of  bone 
decorated  with  notches  and  incised  lines. 


FIG.  68. — Stone  disc.     Field  north  of  Mouiul  D.     (Diameter  7.35  inches.) 

One  of  the  bunched  burials  referred  to  was  in  reality  a  deposit  of  bones  ex 
tending  over  a  number  of  square  feet.  Near  a  skull  in  this  mass  of  bones  were 
two  carefully  made  lanceheads  of  quartzite,  one  6.25  inches,  the  other  8  inches,  in 
length.  With  these  were  masses  of  limonite  and  of  hematite,  a  small  jasper  arrow 
head,  and  a  thin  slab  of  ferruginous  sandstone.  At  another  part  of  this  deposit  of 
bones  were  two  lanceheads  of  quartzite.  7  inches  and  7.5  inches  in  length,  respec- 
tivelv,  havinsr  notches  at  the  base  for  attachment,  which  the  other  two  lanceheads 


ISO 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


did  not  have.      With  the  lanceheads  found  last  was  a  number  of  beads  made  by 
grinding  down  small  shells  (Auculosa  talniata  and  Lithasia  sJiowalterii}. 

The  badly  decayed  skeleton  of  a  child  had  shell  beads  at  the  wrists  and  at  the 
knees. 

Another  skeleton  had,  near  the  lower  part  of  the  trunk,  shell  ornaments,  very 
badly  decayed,  made  from  small  sections  of  conch,  pierced  at  one  end.  At  the  right 
shoulder,  where  the  wrist  of  one  hand  had  rested,  were  shell  beads. 

With  several  burials  were  small  quantities  of  mica. 

A'essel  No.  1. — A  shallow  basin  of 
coarse,  shell-tempered  ware,  undecorated 
save  for  notches  around  the  margin  (Fig. 
G7).  This  vessel  lay  alone  near  the  sur 
face,  the  skeleton  to  which  it  belonged 
presumably  having  been  ploughed  away. 

Vessels  Nos.  2  and  3. — A  skeleton 
lying  at  full  length  on  the  back,  had  on  the 


FIG.  67.— Vessel  No.  1.     Field  north  of  Mound  D. 
(Diameter  9.i>  inches.) 


FIG.  63.— Vessel  No.  3.     Field  north  of  Mound  D. 
(Height  4  inches.) 


upper  part  of  the  thorax  a  fragment  of  coarse  earthenware,  0  inches  by  8  inches, 
approximately.  The  skull  was  somewhat  elevated.  Some  inches  below  it  was  a 
fragment  of  pottery  of  about  the  same  size  as  the  other,  and  beneath  it  Vessel  No. 
2,  a  small  bowl  with  notches  around  the  margin.  By  the  side  of  this  bowl,  but  not 
covered  bv  the  pottery  fragment,  was  a  small,  undecorated  water-bottle.  Vessel  No. 
3  (Fig.  68). 

Vessel  No.  4. — Two  feet  from  a  skeleton  and  somewhat  below  it,  standing 
upright  on  the  floor  of  a  shallow  pit,  was  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  of  black  ware, 
having  around  the  body  a  decoration  of  depressions  and  incised  lines  forming  a 
scroll,  a  popular  pattern  at  Moundville. 

Vessel  No.  5. — An  undecorated  water-bottle  of  coarse,  red  ware,  found  lying  at 
the  head  of  a  skeleton.  Under  the  skull  was  a  slab  of  a  derivative  of  trap-rock, 
irregularly  oblong.  4  inches  in  length  by  3  inches  broad.  At  the  feet  were  frag 
ments  of  sheet-copper  and  two  small,  neatly-made  discoidal  stones.  A  femur  from 
this  skeleton,  showing  pathological  condition,  was  sent  to  the  Army  Medical  Museum 
at  Washinirton. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


IS] 


Fici.  69. — Vessel  No.  6.     Field  north  of  Mound  D.     (Diameter  8.3  inches.) 


Vessel  No.  (i. — This  vessel  (Fig.  09),  found  lying  by  the  skull  of  a  skeleton, 
presumably  represents  a  frog. 

Vessels  Nos.  7,  8,  9,  10. — Twenty-two  inches  from  the  surface  was  a  skeleton 
extended  on  the  back.  Immediately  at  the  left  of  the  skull,  which  had  a  fragment 
of  pottery  beneath  it,  was  Vessel  No.  10,  and  two  others  (Vessels  Nos.  8  and  9), 
were  just  beyond  it.  All  these  were  of  inferior  ware,  and  each  had  two  loop- 
handles  below  the  rim  and  two  small  projections  equidistant  therefrom.  Within 
Vessel  No.  9  was  a  pot  of  coarse  ware,  in  fragments.  The  photograph  of  this 
skeleton,  reproduced  in  Fig.  70,  unfortunately  could  not  be  taken  in  a  position  to 
show  all  the  vessels. 


Fro.  70.— Skeleton  with  certain  aveuiujuinyiiig  v 


182 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


Flu.  71.— Vessel  No.  11.     Field  north  of  Mound  D. 
(Height  5.8  inches.) 


Vessel  No.  11. — This  vessel,  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  (Fig.  71),  with  incised 
scroll  design  surrounding  depressions,  had  been  placed  beside  the  skull  of  an  ex 
tended  skeleton.  Beneath  this  vessel,  but  not  in  contact  with  it,  was  a  fragment  of 
a  pot. 

Vessel  No.  12. — An  interesting 
water-bottle,  with  handles,  as  shown 
in  Fig.  72.  Near  this  vessel  was  a 
large  fragment  of  pottery. 

Vessels  Nos.  13  and  14. — Ves 
sel  No.  13,  a  small  bowl  with  incised 
decoration  of  the  ribbon-fold  pattern 
(Fig.  73),  and  Vessel  No.  14  (Fig. 
74),  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle 
with  four  incised  designs,  all  similar 
(two  of  which  are  shown),  lay  near 
the  remains  of  the  skull  of  an  infant 
or  of  an  older  child,  from  which  the 
remainder  of  the  skeleton,  in  all 
probability,  had  crumbled  away. 

Vessels  Nos.  15  and  16. — Ves 
sel    No.    15,    a    small,    undecorated 
bowl,  and  Vessel  No.  16,  a  broad- 
mouthed  water-bottle  bearing  a  decoration  consisting  of  the  characteristic  depres 
sions  surrounded  by  incised   scrolls,  lay  together  beside  the  skull  of  a  skeleton  at 
full  length. 

Vessel  No.  17. — A  bowl  badly  broken,  but  since  put  together  (Fig.  75),  having 
as  decoration  incised  scrolls  partly  interlocked,  lay  by  the  shoulder  of  an  extended 
skeleton. 

Vessel  No.  18. — This  vessel,  found  in  fragments  just  below  the  surface,  has 
upright  bands  with  cross-hatch  decoration. 

Vessel  No.  19. — Into  a  pit,  probably  roughly  circular,  4  feet  deep  and  3  feet 
iu  diameter,  another  pit  had  been  dug.  This  second  pit,  28  inches  deep  and  30 
inches  in  diameter,  extended  6  inches  beyond  the  margin  of  the  lower  pit  on  one 
side.  At  the  bottom  of  the  upper  pit  was  a  skull,  several  cervical  vertebrae,  and  one 
clavicle.  With  the  clavicle  were  decaying  fragments  of  a  sheet-copper  ornament 
and  certain  shell  beads.  Considerablv  above  these  bones  was  a  bunch  of  parallel 
long-bones  made  up  of  what  remained  of  two  humeri,  two  femurs,  two  tibia?,  one 
patella,  and  one  ulna.  Near  the  skull  of  the  lower  deposit  was  a  small,  broad- 
mouthed  water-bottle  (Vessel  No.  19#),  having  two  holes  for  suspension. 

Vessel  No.  20. — Part  of  a  vessel  of  eccentric  shape,  having  a  portion  of  the 
rim  much  lower  than  the  remainder  which  has  been  scalloped.  The  base  is  Hat 
(Fig.  76).  This  vessel  belongs  to  an  unfamiliar  type  of  which  more  w'ill  be  said  in 
connection  with  Vessel  No.  37,  Mound  0. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK   WARRIOR  RIVER.  183 


Fin.  72.— Vessel  No.  12.     Field  north  of  Mound  D.     (Height  8.6  inches.) 


Km.  73.— Vessel  Xo.  13.     Field  north  of  Mound  I). 
(Height  4.7  inches.) 


FIG.  74.— Vessel  No.  14.     Field  north  of  Mound  D. 
(Diameter  4.4  inches.) 


FIG.  75.— Vessel  No.  17.     Field  north  of  Mound  D.     (Diameter  4.4  inches.) 


184  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


The  head  of  a  duck  (Fig.  77),  an  ornament  belonging  loan  earthenware  vessel, 
lay  alone  in  the  soil. 


FK;.  76.— Vessel  No.  20.     Field  north  of  Mound  D. 
(Height  3.4  inches.) 


FIG.  77. — Duck's  head  of  earthenware.     Field  north  of  Mound  I). 
(Full  size.) 

GKOUND  SOUTH  OF  MOUND  D. 

Between  the  cultivated  field  that  borders  Mound  B  on  the  east  and  the  southern 
.side  of  Mound  D  is  a  strip  of  land  covered  with  small  trees,  and  having  a  deep 
gully  on  two  sides.  This  strip,  running  very  nearly  north  and  south,  is  about  500 
feet  long  and  varies  from  75  to  140  feet  in  width.  Nineteen  trial-holes,  considerably 
larger  than  those  sunk  by  us  in  summit  plateaus  of  mounds,  were  dug  in  the  eastern, 
or  higher  part  of  this  strip.  These  holes  were  about  3  feet  deep  except  where  pits 
were  encountered,  in  which  event  they  were  correspondingly  enlarged  and  deepened. 

Twenty-five  burials,  including  two  skeletons  together,  were  met  with.  These 
were  similar  in  form  to  other  burials  found  at  Moundville. 

All  earthenware  found  with  the  dead  came  from  two  pits. 

At  the  head  of  a  skeleton,  20  inches  down,  was  Vessel  No.  1.  a  small,  un- 
decorated,  wide-mouthed  water-bottle ;  and  Vessel  No.  2,  a  handsome  pot  of  polished, 
black  ware,  with  two  loop-handles,  made  in  the  effigy  of  a  frog  (Fig.  78).  Else 
where  in  this  cemetery  various  fragments  were  met  with  which  indicated  that  the 
concept  of  the  frog  had  been  a  popular  one  during  the  time  the  burial  place  was  in 
use.  With  the  same  skeleton  was  a  small  "celt"  with  one  side  smooth  and  the 
other  rough,  except  at  the  cutting  edge. 

Vessel  No.  3. — A  little  toy  bowl,  representing  a  tortoise,  having  the  head  and 
one  nipper  missing  (Fig.  79),  lay  near  the  surface  apart  from  human  remains. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.   BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


185 


FIG.  7f*. — Vessel  Xo.  2.     ((round  south  of  Mound  1).     (Diameter  6.75  inehes.) 

Ill  the  same  pit  as  the  frog  effigy-vessel  were  a 
skull  and  certain  disturbed  bones.  Near  the  skull 
were  Vessel  No.  4  (Fig.  80).  a  small,  wide-mouthed 
water-bottle  having  the  popular  decoration  consisting 
of  incised  scrolls  surrounding  depressions  in  the  body 
of  the  vessel,  and  fragments  of  another  vessel  that 
had  been  broken  by  an  aboriginal  disturbance. 

Still  in  the  same  [tit  were  the  skull  and  upper 
part  of  a  skeleton,  the  remainder  having  been  cut 
away  to  make  room  for  another  burial.  Near  the 
skull  was  Vessel  No.  5.  a  pot  of  coarse,  red  ware, 
the  shell-tempering  showing  all  over  it.  with  two 

loop-handles,  and  having  below  the  margin  a  circle  of  projecting  knobs.  With  this 
pot  was  Vessel  No.  6.  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  with  globular  body  and  rounded 
base,  an  exception  to  the  style  that  prevailed  at  Moundville,  where  the  bases  were 
usually  flat.  On  part  of  the  body  of  the  vessel  is  a  faintly  outlined  pattern  where 
decoration  has  been  started  and  abandoned  (Fig.  81). 

An  extended  skeleton  lying  on  its  back   had  over  the  face  a  portion  of  a  large 

24  JOUKX.   A.  NT.  S.  PHILA..   VOL.  XIII. 


Fit;.  79. — Vessel  No.  3.     ((round  south 
of  Mound  D.     (Full  size.) 


186 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


Fi«.  SO. — Vessel  No.  4.     Ground  south  of  Mound  D. 
(Diameter  4.4  inches.) 


FIG.  81.— Vessel  No.  6.     Ground  south  of  Mound  D. 
(Diameter  6.6  inches.) 


bowl,  inverted.     The  neck  was  not  covered,  but  over  the  chest  and  abdomen  to  the 
pelvis  had  been  placed  a  layer  of  sherds. 

In  another  pit  was  a  full-length  skeleton  on  its  back,  having  near  the  left  side 
of  the  skull  Vessel  No.  7.  a  small,  undecorated  bowl,  in  fragments.  At  the  right 
shoulder  were  two  smoking-pipes  of  inferior  ware  (Figs.  82,  83).  Near  the  right 
humerus  was  Vessel  No.  8,  a  small,  undecorated  bowl,  broken  into  two  parts.  With 
the  bowl  was  Vessel  No.  (J  (Fig.  84),  in  fragments,  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle 
bearing  on  each  of  two  opposite  sides  a  design  of  a  bird  witli  two  heads,  one  pointing 


FIG.  82.  — Pipe  of  earthenware.     Ground  south  of  Mound  D. 
(Full  size.) 


FIG.  83. — Pipe  of  earthenware.     Ground  south  of  Mound  D. 

(.Full  size.) 


CERTAIN  ABORKUNAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVKR. 


FIG.  84.— Vessel  No.  9.     Ground  south  of  Mound  D.     (Height  ,~>.2  inches.) 

upward,  one  downward,  and  a  circular  symbol,  perhaps  denoting  the  body  in  common. 
At  each  side  of  this  body  is  a  triangular  tail  with  pointed,  individual  feathers  (Eig. 
85).  The  bird,  presumably,  is  intended  to  represent  the  heron,  which  still  frequents 
the  Black  Warrior  near  the  Moundville  mounds.  To  this  heron,  or  these  herons, 
however,  have  been  given  tails  of  the  woodpecker,  which  were  a  popular  device  in 
Moundville  pottery  decoration.  Aboriginal  artists  were  not  always  consistent. 
Another  inconsistency,  if  the  heads  are  intended  for  those  of  herons,  is  the  extended 
tongue,  this  bird  not  using  its  tongue  in  the  manner  common  to  woodpeckers. 

In  the  same  pit.  at  the  head  of  a  skeleton  flexed  on  the  right  side,  was  a 
broad-mouthed  water-bottle,  Vessel  No.  10  (Fig.  80),  with  scroll,  finger,  and  cross- 
hatch  decoration;  and  an  undecorated  bowl,  Vessel  No.  11.  with  notched  margin. 

With  the  skeleton  of  an  infant  were  two  canine  teeth  of  large  carnivores,  each 
perforated  for  suspension. 

Apart  from  human  remains  was  a  fragment,  5  inches  in  length  including  the 
point,  of  what  had  been  a  sword  or  dagger,  of  chert. 

Several  discs  cut  from  sherds  of  earthenware  vessels  were  found  sinsrlv. 


188 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  85.— Vessel  Xo.  9.     Decoration.     Ground  south  of  Mound  D. 
I  Ab'iut  half  size.) 


MOUND  E. 


FIG.  86.  — Vessel  No.  10.     Ground  south  of  Mound  D. 
(Diameter  5.9  inches.) 


Mound  E,  about  .square  as  to  its  summit  plateau,  each  side  being  about  140 
feet  in  length,  has  undergone  much  cultivation,  and  there  is  much  slant  to  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  plateau  where  heavy  and  repeated  wash  of  rain  has  eaten 
deeply  into  the  mound.  Thirty-three  trial-holes  yielded  no  indication  of  burials. 

MOUXD  F. 

Mound  F.  seamed  with  gullies  on  every  .side,  evidently  has  lost  a  considerable 
part  of  its  summit  plateau  through  wash  of  rain,  after  cultivation.  The  part  of 
the  plateau  remaining  is  about  40  feet  east  and  west  by  70  feet  north  and  south. 

Eleven  trial-holes  showed  the  presence  of  burials  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  mound.  Considerable  trenching  was  next  undertaken,  extending  the  full  length 
of  the  mound  on  each  side.  One  of  these  trenches  showed  additional  burials  in  the 
same  part  of  the  plateau. 

Eventually  a  space  38  feet  long  by  28  feet  wide,  was  marked  out  on  the  northern 
part  of  the  plateau,  and  well  to  the  eastward,  excluding  northern  and  western  por 
tions  of  the  plateau  where  no  indication  of  burial  had  been  found.  The  area  thus 
selected  was  completely  dug  through  to  a  depth  of  4  feet,  and  deeper  when  necessary 
in  following  pits. 

Burials  proved  to  be  confined  to  a  limited  area  along  the  eastern  side  of  the 
plateau,  in  the  northern  part.  Presumably  the  burial  area  had  been  greater,  but 
had  washed  away  with  parts  of  the  northeastern  limit  of  the  mound.  The  burials, 
nineteen  in  number,  were  very  fragmentary,  being  in  the  last  stage  of  decay,  and 
often  represented  merely  by  a  few  crumbling  bits. 

Vessel  No.  1  is  a  small,  broad-mouthed  water-bottle,  undecorated,  found  in 
fragments. 

Vessel   No.  2,  a  small  bowl  with  rough,  incised  decoration,  lay  with  a  disc,  6 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  189 

inches  in  diameter,  made  from  a  portion  of  a  pottery  vessel.      No  bones  were  with 
these  objects,  though  presumably  they  had  been  present. 

Apart  from  human  remains  was  a  diseoidal  stone  about  an  inch  in  diameter, 
probably  of  tufa,  of  a  type  of  which  we  found  a  number  at  Moundville,  and  else 
where,  namely,  with  the  base  somewhat  larger  than  the  upper  surface,  giving  the 
stone  the  appearance  of  a  much  truncated  cone.  Somewhat  later  a  diseoidal  of 
amphibolite  was  met  with,  of  the  same  type  but  a  trifle  larger.  This  stone  had  in 


FIG.  87.— Vessel  Xo.  3.     Mound  F.     (Height  (i.2  inches.) 

the  middle  of  each  of  its  flat  surfaces  a  hole  drilled  so  deeply  that  the  two  nearly 
met.  The  day  succeeding  the  finding  of  this  stone,  while  digging  trial-holes  in  a 
field  immediately  north  of  Mound  H,  we  came  upon  a  beautiful  diseoidal  stone 
having,  at  first  glance,  the  appearance  of  hematite,  but  being  in  reality  limonite 
that  had  undergone  change  to  hematite  on  the  surface  only.  This  diseoidal,  1.5 
inch  in  diameter,  was  drilled  completely  through.  With  the  diseoidal  stone  found 
in  Mound  F  was  a  carefully  rounded  disc  of  pottery,  seemingly  made  from  a  frag- 


190 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


ment  of  a  vessel,  having  five  small  perforations  forming  an  irregular  circle  some 
what  below  the  margin. 

Vessel  No.  3,  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle,  lav  in  small  fragments  near  the 

*/ 

skull  of  an  extended  skeleton.  The  vessel,  pieced  together  (Fig.  87),  bears  a  series 
of  curious  symbols.  The  rosette  figures  represent  the  sun,  according  to  Professor 
Holmes.1  We  have  also,  according  to  Professor  Putnam,  an  arrow  and  the  sun, 
possibly  a  winged  sun.  This  symbol  bears  some  resemblance  to  the  ollin  of  the 
Mexicans.  It  would  be  quite  in  keeping  to  represent  an  arrow  with  the  sun,  the 
arrow  representing  a  ray  or  dart  of  the  Sun-god,  and  the  sun  representing  his  shield 
as  portrayed  by  our  Indians  down  to  the  present  time.2  The  group  of  symbols  on 
this  vessel  is  shown  in  diagram  in  Fig.  88. 

Vessel  No.  4.  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle,  lay  apart  from   human  remains. 


FIG.  83.— Vessel  Xo.  3.     Decoration.     Mound  F.     (About  half  size.) 


Pieced  together  (Fig.  89),  the  vessel  shows  four  triangular  tails  of  the  woodpecker 
with  their  individual,  pointed  feathers,  two  tails  pointing  upward  and  two  down 
ward.  On  each  tail  is  a  swastika  (Fig.  90),  incomplete  in  two  instances. 

Lying  apart  from  where  burials  were,  was  a  grotesque  figurine  of  earthenware 
(Fig.  91),  evidently  a  toy.  with  the  legs  broken  off  at  the  junction  with  the  body. 
There  is  a  hurnp  on  the  back.  Two  projections  on  the  head  probably  represent 
copper  hair-ornaments;  two  similar  projections  have  been  broken  oil'. 

Vessel  No.  5,  a  small,  undecorated  pot  witli  flaring  rim  and  two  loop-shaped 
handles,  lay  near  fragments  of  a  skull. 

\  0/>.  cit.,  p.  01. 

"  He  took  from  pegs  where  they  hung  around  the  room  and  gave  to  eaeli  *  *  *  a  chain-light 
ning  arrow,  a  sheet-lightning  arrow,  a  sunbeam  arrow,  a  rainbow  arrow,"  *  *  *.  "Navaho  Legends," 
Washington  Matthews,  Memoirs  of  the  Am.  Folklore  Soc.,  Vol.  V,  p.  111. 

"For  the  orb  of  day  is  to  the  Navaho,  only  the  luminous  shield  of  the  god,  behind  which  the 
bearer  walks  or  rides,  invisible  to  those  on  earth."  "The  Night  Chant,  a  Navaho  Ceremony,"  Wash 
ington  Matthews,  Memoirs  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  N.  Y.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  30. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK   WARRIOR  RIVER. 


191 


FIG.  89.— Vessel  \o.  4.     Mound  I".     (Diameter  6.5  inches.) 


FIG.  90.  — Vessel  No.  4.     Decoration.     Mound  F.     (About  half  size.) 


\  essel  No.  6,  a  shallow  bowl  with  scalloped  margin  and  rudely  incised  interior 
decoration  (Fig.  92).  was  found  near  what  remained  of  a  cranium. 

At  the  head  of  a  skeleton  extended,  was  Vessel   No.  7.  crushed   to  fragments, 


102  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


an  undecorated,  broad-mouthed  water-bottle  of  the  coarsest  ware  of  any  vessel  of 
that  class  found  by  ns  at  Moundville. 

In  caved  soil  was  Vessel  No.  8,  a  small,  undecorated  bowl  of  very  inferior  ware. 

At  the  right  elbow  of  an  extended  skeleton  was  Vessel  No.  9,  a  pot  of  coarse 
ware  with  loop-handles. 


FIG.  91. — Part  of  figurine.     Mound 
F.     (About  full  size.) 


FIG.  92. — Vessel  No.  G.     Mound  F.     (Diameter  8  inches.) 


FIG.  94. — Vessel  No.  12.     Mound  F.     (Diameter  5.75  incites.) 


FIG.  93.— Vessel  No.  10.     Mound  F.     (Height  0.3  inches.) 


FIG.  95.— Pipe  of  soapstone.     Mound  F.     (Full  size.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  RKMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


193 


FIG.  96.— Vessel  No.  13.     Mound   F.     (Height  5.2  inches.) 


FIG.  98.— Vessel  No.  15.     Mound  F.     (Height  4.3  inches.) 


Fio.  97.— Vessel  No.  14.     Mound  F.     (Height  7  inches.) 


FIG.  99.— Earthenware  effigy  of  owl.     Mound  F.     (Full  size.) 


Vessel  No.  10,  not  identified  with  any  burial,  is  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle, 
badly  broken.  On  each  of  two  sides  of  the  body  of  the  bottle  is  a  rude  attempt  to 
delineate  the  human  head,  now  partly  weathered  away  (Fig.  93). 

Near  the  skull  of  a  full-length  burial  was  Vessel  No.  11,  a  pot  of  coarse,  brown 
ware,  broken  to  bits;  and  Vessel  No.  12.  a  bowl,  somewhat  crushed,  with  a  number 
of  small  knobs  in  a  group  on  one  side,  near  the  rim  (Fig.  94),— perhaps  a  conven 
tional  shell  form.  We  found  a  number  of  fragments  of  similar  vessels  at  Moundville. 

Burial  No.  17.  so  decayed  that  only  with  difficulty  could  the  bones  be  identified 

25  JOCEN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA..  VOL.  XIII. 


194 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


as  belonging  to  an  extended  skeleton,  had  near  what  was  left  of  the  skull,  a 
beautiful  pipi>  of  soapstone,  blackened  and  highly  polished  (Fig.  95).  From  the 
general  appearance  of  this  pipe  and  from  its  decoration  of  projecting  knobs  one 
would  not  refer  it  to  the  Moundville  region,  but  consider  it  rather  a  Georgia  form, 
though  in  that  State  similar  pipes  are  of  earthenware.  C.  C.  Jones  figures  one 
from  a  mound  near  Macon,  and  we  obtained  one  on  the  Georgia  coast  and  another 
in  a  mound  on  the  bank  of  the  Savannah  river.  With  the  burial  with  which 
the  pipe  was,  was  Vessel  No.  13,  a  small,  undecorated,  broad-mouthed  water-bottle 
(Fig.  96). 

At  the  head  of  a  skeleton  was  Vessel  No.  14,  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle 
of  a  well-known  southern  type  (Fig.  97).  At  the  knees  of  the  same  skeleton  was  a 
small,  broad-mouthed  water-bottle,  badly  broken. 

A  full-length  skeleton  had  a  small,  undecorated  water-bottle  (Vessel  No.  15)  at 
the  head  (Fig.  98). 

Apart  from  human  remains  was  a  curious  little  effigy  of  an  owl.  rather  rudely 
made,  standing  on  four  legs  (Fig.  99). 

MOUND  G. 

Mound  G.  the  sides  of  which  have  been  much  washed  by  rain,  has  a  summit 
plateau  that  measures  about  65  feet  by  80  feet.  There  are  no  signs  of  previous  cul 
tivation  of  the  plateau,  but  an  unimportant  trench  has  been  carried  in  from  the 
eastern  side,  partly  across  the  plateau.  Twenty-five  trial-holes  gave  no  indication 
of  pit,  of  burial,  or  of  artifact. 

MOUND  H. 

Mound  H,  evidently  a   much  smaller  mound,  originally,  than   its  companions, 

has  been  ploughed  away  and  dug 
through  to  such  an  extent  that  it  is 
no  longer  possible  to  conclude  as  to  its 
former  height  or  shape.  The  height 
of  the  mound  given  in  our  list  is  per 
haps  misleading,  including  as  it  does  a 


FIG.  100.— Vessel  No.  3.    Mound  II.    (Diameter  5.5  inches.) 


FIG.  101. -Shell  beads.     Mound  H.     (Full  size.) 

mass  of  flattened  debris  thrown  out  by 
former  diggers.  A  small  part,  which 
had  escaped  former  excavators,  proved 
of  considerable  interest. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


195 


Vessels  Nos.  1  and  2.  a  water-bottle  and  a  howl,  respectively,  both  of  coarse 
ware,  and  each  with  rude,  incised  decoration,  were  found  apart  from  human  remains, 
which,  probably,  had  been  dug  away.  The  water-bottle,  which  stood  upright,  had 
on  its  neck  the  bowl  inverted. 

\  essel  No.  3,  an  undecorated  water-bottle,  found  somewhat  broken,  has  since 
been  pieced  together  (Fig.  100). 

Burial  No.  1,  an  adult  lying  at  full  length,  had  fourteen  shell  beads,  each  .75 
inch  in  diameter,  at  the  ankles,  and  eight  of  about  the  same  si/e  at  the  right 
wrist.  On  the  chest  were  407  spool-shaped  shell  beads,  neatly  made,  ranging  be 
tween  .4  and  .6  of  an  inch  in  length  (Fig.  101),  and  also  a  number  badly  broken. 
At  the  right  shoulder  and  arm  were  260  tubular  beads  of  shell,  ranging  from  1  inch 
to  1.75  inch  in  length.  With  these  beads  were  three  of  the  kind  found  at  the 
ankles,  and  several  bits  of  shell,  the  use  of  which  was  not  apparent.  Under  the 


KKI.  102.— Gorget  of  copper.     Mound  H.     (Full  size.) 

chin  were  fragments  of  a  sheet-copper  gorget  which,  partly  pieced  together,  is  seen 
to  have  been  a  six-pointed  star  enclosed  within  a  circle  and  having  a  repousse  eye 
in  the  center  (Fig.  102).  With  this  gorget  was  a  number  of  small,  perforated  pearls 
used  as  beads.  Near  the  head,  where  the  hair  had  been,  was  an  ornament  of  sheet- 
copper  that  fell  into  small  fragments  on  removal.  On  the  other  side  of  the  head 
was  a  button-shaped  object  of  wood,  perhaps  an  ear-plug,  about  .75  inch  in  diameter, 
with  an  encircling  groove,  and  copper-coated  on  the  upper,  or  convex  side. 

Apart  from  human  remains,  and  alone,  was  a  small,  circular  ornament  of  sheet- 
copper,  with  a  beaded  margin  and  a  central  concavo-convex  boss.  A  broken  jasper 
arrowhead  also  lav  alone. 


196 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER, 


Burial  No.  2,  the  skeleton  of  a  powerfully  built,  but  not  especially  tall,  adult 
male.  At  the  right  foot  was  a  disc  of  fine-grained  gneiss,  7.5  inches  in  diameter, 
with  incised  scallops  around  the  margin  and  three  encircling,  parallel  lines  below 
(Fig.  103).  On  this  disc  was  a  considerable  amount  of  red  pigment,  At  the  ankles 
of  the  skeleton  were  sixteen  beads  of  shell,  1  inch  and  1.25  inch  in  their  minor  and 
major  axes.  At  each  knee  were  many  spool-shaped  shell  beads.  At  the  right 
margin  of  the  pelvis  was  a  copper  ceremonial  hatchet  (Fig.  28E),  5.75  inches  in  length 


FIG.  103. — Stone  disc.     Mound  H.     (Diameter  7.5  inches.) 

and  1.9  inch  across  the  flaring  blade.  The  part  formerly  occupied  by  the  handle, 
with  1  inch  of  the  implement  projecting  behind  it,  is  clearly  apparent.  At  the  right 
wrist  were  seven  great  beads  of  shell  and  many  spool-shaped  beads  of  the  same 
material.  Near  the  right  elbow  were  thirteen  pendants  of  sheet-copper,  all  similar, 
but  no  two  exactly  alike,  each  in  the  form  of  an  arrowhead  bearing  a  repoztssc  eye 


FIG.  105. — Hair-ornament  of  sheet-copper, 
with  bone  pin  in  place.  Mound  H. 
(Full  size.) 


Pendants  of  sheet-copper, 
i  Full  size.) 


Mound  II. 


198  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

(Fig.  104).  These  lay  with  the  bases  together,  the  pointed  ends  spread  in  fan- 
shaped  fashion  as  if  the  bases  had  been  strung  together  through  a  perforation  in 
each  and  the  points  had  spread  somewhat  on  the  arm.  At  the  left  wrist  and  fore 
arm  were  eight  beads  of  shell,  each  about  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  a  quantity  of 
spool-shaped  beads.  At  the  neck  were  a  number  of  small  shell  beads.  At  each 
side  of  the  head  was  a  wooden  ear-plug,  copper-coated,  the  part  belonging  behind 
the  lobe  of  the  ear  being  absent,  probably  through  decay.  At  the  skull  was  a  hair- 
ornament  of  sheet-copper  (Fig.  105)  with  a  pin  of  bone  in  place  in  a  socket  riveted 
together  to  receive  it.  On  the  body  of  the  ornament  is  repousse  work,  including  a 
delineation  of  the  human  head.  The  small  projection  at  the  top  of  the  ornament 

is  fastened  on  by  means  of  a  rivet.  Lying  on  this  orna 
ment  was  a  small  circle  of  sheet-copper.  .75  inch  in  diame 
ter,  enclosing  a  five-pointed  star  (Fig.  106).  There  is  a  per 
foration  in  the  margin  and  two  in  the  center  of  the  orna 
ment,  in  which  cord  remains  in  place. 
Km.  IDS.— ornament  «f  sheet-  ^u  addition  to  the  burials  noted,  we  found  in  the  rem- 

copper.     Mound  II.     (Full        nant    of    tho    ]1K)m,d     (]ug    through     I)V     US     O11G     skt'lotoil    fllll 

length  on  the  back,  and  an  aboriginal  .disturbance  consist 
ing  of  a  skull  and  a  femur  together. 

A  shell  drinking-cup  lay  apart  from  human  remains. 

MOUND  I. 

Mound  I,  its  soil  loosened  by  cultivation  and  greatly  washed  by  rain,  is  a  mere 
wreck  of  its  former  self.  The  area  of  what  is  left  of  the  summit  plateau  is  approxi 
mately  85  feet  north  and  south  by  40  feet  east  and  west.  Seventeen  trial-holes  in 
the  plateau  indicated  that  it  had  not  been  used  for  burial  purposes. 

MOUND  J. 

Mound  J,  somewhat  affected  by  wash,  has  a  shallow  and  narrow  trench  fol 
lowing  its  slope  upward  on  the  southern  side  and  continuing  part  way  through  the 
plateau.  The  sides  of  the  plateau  are  irregular  in  length,  measuring  about  80  feet 
east  and  west  by  30  feet  north  and  south.  Nineteen  trial-holes  yielded  in  one  in 
stance  a  few  fragments  of  human  bone  just  below  the  surface. 

MOUND  K. 

Mound  K,  largely  washed  away,  has  what  is  left  of  a  summit  plateau  now  60 
feet  long  by  20  feet  broad.  An  unimportant  trench  had  been  dug  in  from  the 
northern  side,  expanding  considerably  in  the  central  part  of  the  plateau.  Nine 
trial-holes  were  sunk  by  us,  one  of  which,  on  the  eastern  side,  came  upon  half  of  a 
large  slab  of  sedimentary  rock,  with  a  scalloped  margin  at  the  unbroken  end,  and 
having  a  quantity  of  red  paint  on  one  side  and  red  and  cream-colored  paint  on  the 
other.  With  this  fragment  was  part  of  a  coarse  vessel  of  yellow-brown  ware,  square 
in  horizontal  section,  with  rude,  incised  decoration. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK   WARRIOR  RIVER.  199 

Encouraged  by  this  discovery,  two  more  trial-holes  were  made  and  a  trench 
was  dug,  22  feet  6  inches  long  by  l>  leet  broad,  4  feet  deep  on  the  summit  plateau, 
and  -5  feet  deep  on  the  slope,  over  a  part  of  which  it  extended.  With  the  exception 
of  a  rough  ball  of  earthenware,  about  2  inches  in  diameter,  no  objects  were  found. 

As  the  summit  plateau  had  been  thoroughly  covered  bv  us.  the  investigation 
was  abandoned  with  the  conviction  on  our  part  that  while  burials  had  been  present, 
doubtless  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  original  plateau,  thev  had  washed  away  with 
the  mound,  leaving  the  artifacts  found  by  us,  which  were  near  the  eastern  edge. 

Morxi)  L. 

Mound  L.  the  sides  of  which  almost  exactly  coincide  with  the  cardinal  points, 
is  bounded  on  the  north  and  west  by  a  cultivated  field,  and  on  the  south  and  east 
by  an  artificial  pool  of  water  that  marks  the  place  whence  material  for  the  mound 
was  taken.  The  summit  plateau,  which  has  been  under  cultivation,  is  93  feet  long 
E.  and  W.,  and  80  feet  broad  N.  and  S.,  approximately. 

The  height  of  the  mound  is  12  feet  9  inches  from  the  north;  from  the  west, 
13  feet  4  inches;  from  the  south,  14  feet  10  inches. 

Twenty-five  trial-holes,  covering  the  entire  plateau,  were  sunk  by  us  with  only 
negative  result. 

Next,  an  excavation  18  feet  square,  having  for  its  center  the  central  part  of 
the  summit  plateau,  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  14  feet  10  inches,  at  which  level  the 
excavation  was  about  13  feet  (i  inches  by  12  feet  4  inches.  The  mound  showed  no 
distinct  stratification.  No  pits  were  met,  and  no  sign  of  dual  occupancy;  the  only 
artifacts  found  were  several  small  bits  of  pottery. 

As  the  base  of  our  excavation,  however,  still  seemed  to  be  composed  of  dis 
turbed  clay,  a  circular  bole  4  feet  in  diameter  was  made,  which,  at  a  depth  of  1 
foot  10  inches,  came  upon  homogeneous  material,  clayey  sand  of  lead  color,  which 
extended  downward  to  an  unascertained  depth.  Here  we  have  a  domiciliary  mound, 
similar,  we  believe,  to  the  majority  of  such  mounds,  that  is.  one  not  put  to  secondary 
use  as  a  place  of  burial. 

MOUND  M. 

Mound  M.  is  simply  the  remnant  of  what  has  been  a  small  domiciliary  mound, 
now  partly  washed  away.  The  dimensions  of  what  remains  of  its  summit  plateau 
are  3d  feet  by  22  feet.  Thirteen  trial-holes  were  without  material  result. 

MOUND  N. 

Mound  N,  fairly  symmetrical,  has  a  summit  plateau,  about  65  feet  square, 
which  has  been  under  cultivation.  Twenty-nine  trial-holes,  without  discovery  of 
any  sort,  convinced  us  that  this  mound  had  not  been  used  for  burial  purposes. 

MOUND  0. 

Mound  0.  a  symmetrical,  little  mound  but  slightly  aft'ected  by  wash  of  rain, 
and  previous  to  our  visit,  a  stranger  to  the  plough,  had  been  trenched  from  the 


200 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


eastern  side  to  beyond  the  center  of  the  summit  plateau.  This  trench,  8  feet  wide 
at  the  top.  expanded  at  the  end  to  a  circular  hole  about  13  feet  in  diameter.  Both 
trench  and  hole  were  comparatively  shallow,  the  depth  being  perhaps  from  3  to  4 
feet. 

The  mound,  11  feet  9  inches  high  from  the  east  and  16  feet  7  inches  high  from 
the  south,  has  its  longer  sides  extending  almost  due  north  and  south.  The  plateau 
is  about  33  feet  by  53  feet  in  extent. 

Nine  trial-holes  almost  at  once  resulted  in  the  discovery  of  human  remains  in 
two  places,  and  of  artifacts  in  the  extreme  northeastern  part  of  the  mound  at  a  con 
siderable  distance  from  these  burials. 

As  the  plateau  seemed  to  have  been  extensively  used  for  burial,  it  was  com 
pletely  dug  through  by  us  to  a  minimum  depth  of  from  4  to  5  feet. 

Burial  No.  1. — This  burial  lay  beneath  artifacts  discovered  by  means  of  one  of 
our  trial-holes.  Nine  inches  from  the  surface  was  a  disc  of  sedimentary  rock,  12.5 
inches  in  diameter  (Fig.  107).  Around  its  upper  surface,  which  is  somewhat  con- 


FIG.  107. — Stone  disc.     Mound  O.     (One-quarter  size.) 

cave,  are  two  parallel,  encircling  lines,  rather  roughly  incised.  From  the  lower  sur 
face  projects  a  circular  core,  the  diameter  of  which  is  about  2  inches  less  than  that 
of  the  upper  part. 

Nine  inches  below  the  slab,  was  a  skull,  with  a  left  clavicle,  a  left  humerus, 
and  a  few  cervical  vertebra;.  The  skull  rested  on  part  of  the  upper  surface  of  a 
disc  of  fine-grained  gneiss,  9  inches  in  diameter,  having  nineteen  notches  on  the 
margin  and  two  encircling,  incised  lines  on  one  side.  On  one  surface  of  the  disc  are 
traces  of  cream-colored  paint;  on  the  other  surface  is  much  red  pigment.  Resting 
on  the  disc,  near  the  skull,  lay  an  ear-plug  of  wood,  copper-coated,  1.5  inch  in 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


201 


diameter,  with  a  central  boss  perforated  through  the  middle,  hi  soil  thrown  out 
by  the  digger  was  found  a  somewhat  smaller  disc  of  wood,  overlaid  with  copper  on 
one  side  and  having  a  similar  central  perforated  boss.  This  disc  probably  formed 
the  part  of  the  ear-plug  referred  to  as  being  behind  the  lobe  of  the  ear,  while 
the  larger  one  was  worn  in  front. 

Where  the  left  shoulder  of  the  skeleton  would  have  been  were  two  other  discs, 
similar  to  those  just  described.  These  discs,  however,  were  on  the  same  side  of  the 
head  as  the  one  first  found,  and  therefore,  presumably,  had  undergone  disturbance 
in  burial. 

A  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  back  had  on  the  chest  a  mass  of  glauconite,  or 
green  earth. 

Another  skeleton,  also  extended,  had  near  the  skull  Vessel  No.  1.  a  small, 
undecorated  bowl. 

Vessel  No.  2,  a  bowl  of  very  inferior  ware,  lay  apart  from  human  remains. 

Four  feet  down  was  a  small  quantity  of  decaying,  fibrous  wood.  The  former 
presence  of  copper  with  it  was  shown  by  a  green  stain  only. 


FIG.  108.— Vessel  No.  3.     Mound  O.     (Diameter  5.8  inches.) 


FlQ.  109.— Vessel  No.  5.     Mound  O.     (Height  5.75  inches.) 


A  skeleton  at  full  length  to  the  hips,  the  rest  having  been  removed  by  an 
aboriginal  disturbance,  had  at  the  skull,  Vessel  No.  3,  a  bowl  with  a  rude  effigy  of 
an  animal-head,  and  a  conventional  tail  on  the  opposite  side.  A  fore-leg  is  indicated 
on  one  side  of  the  bowl  and  a  corresponding  member  doubtless  was  on  the  other 
side;  this  was  missing,  but  has  been  restored  (Fig.  108).  With  Vessel  No.  3  was 
Vessel  No.  4,  an  undecorated,  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  in  fragments. 

An  extended  skeleton  had  large  shell  beads  at  each  wrist,  with  a  few  smaller 
ones  intermingled.  At  the  ankles  were  fifteen  great  beads  of  shell,  about  2  inches 
by  1.75  inch  by  .75  of  an  inch.  Below  the  chin  were  a  few  pearls  used  as  beads, 
and  fragments  of  sheet-copper.  There  were  also  copper-coated  objects  of  wood, 
resembling  ear-plugs,  less  than  an  inch  in  diameter. 

26  JOURX.  A.  N.  S.  PH1LA.,  VOL.  XIII. 


202 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  110.— Stone  slab.     Mound  O.     (Length  14  inches.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  R1VKR. 


203 


Shell  beads,  badly  decayed,  were  with  disturbed  bones,  as  was  also  a  fragment, 
4.75  inches  in  length,  of  what  had  been  a  long,  pointed  .  implement  of  clierty 
material. 

About  a  foot  from  a  skeleton  at  full  length  was  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle, 
Vessel  No.  5,  with  parallel,  vertical  bands  alternately  cross-hatched  (Fig.  109). 

With  a  few  fragments  of  bones  were  nine  large  shell  beads. 

Burial  No.  14,  38  inches  from  the  surface,  was  represented   by  a  single  tooth. 


FlO.  111.— Stone  disc.     Mound  O.     (Diameter  8.5  inches. 


204 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


so  far  as  we  could  determine.  Nearby  was  a  slab  of  line-grained  gneiss  (Fig.  110), 
14  inches  by  9.5  inches,  with  scalloped  ends  and  incised  line  decoration  on  one  side. 
On  one  major  surface  of  this  slab  is  red  pigment,  and  cream-colored  paint  is  on  the 
other.  With  the  slab  was  a  disc  of  fine-grained  gneiss,  8.5  inches  in  diameter  (Fig. 
Ill),  with  notches  around  the  margin,  and  three  encircling  lines  and  faint  traces  of 
a  kind  of  meander  on  one  side  only.  As  in  the  case  of  the  slab,  the  disc  has  red 
paint  on  one  side  and  white  paint  on  the  other.  Nearby  lay  a  shell  gorget,  hope- 


FIG.  112.— Vessel  No.  6.     Mound  O.     (Height  6.75  inches.) 

lessly  decayed.  With  this  burial  was  Vessel  No.  G,  having  on  two  sides  the  double- 
headed  woodpecker  design  with  a  tail  extending  from  each  side  of  the  body.  The 
speech  symbols  are  present,  but  not  the  extended  tongue  (Fig.  112).  In  addition, 
three  fingers  are  shown  near  the  head  of  the  bird,  at  each  side  (Fig.  113). 

A  copper-coated  ear-plug  and  fragments  of  sheet-copper  were  found  apart  from 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  205 


FIG.  113.— Vessel  No.  6.     Decoration.     Mound  O.     (About  half  size.) 


Km.  114.— Vessel  Xo.  9.     Mound  O.     (Height  5.9  inches.) 


206  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

human  bones.  Elsewhere  in  the  mound  a  green  stain  alone  denoted  the  former 
presence  of  copper. 

With  a  bunch  of  bones,  perhaps  an  aboriginal  disturbance,  was  a  cylindrical 
fragment  of  wood  that  had  been  copper-coated. 

Vessel  No.  7,  a  small,  rude,  undecorated  bowl,  and  Vessel  No.  8,  a  rude  bowl 
of  inferior  ware,  were  together,  with  fragments  of  a  wooden  ornament,  copper-coated, 
apart  from  human  remains. 

About  39  inches  from  the  surface  was  Burial  No.  19.  By  the  order  in  which 
they  lay.  small  fragments  of  bone  here  and  there  indicated  a  full-length  burial. 


Fi<;.  115.— Vessel  No.  9.     Decoration.     Mound  O.     (About  half  size.) 

Near  the  skull  was  Vessel  No.  9,  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  showing  an  engraved 
eagle  on  each  side  (Fig.  114).  The  two  designs,  though  similar  in  the  main,  vary 
somewhat  in  detail,  especially  as  to  the  eye.  In  the  accompanying  diagram  (Fig. 
115),  is  shown  the  eagle  from  the  side  opposite  the  one  in  the  half-tone  reproduc 
tion.  Holmes1  shows  engraved  eagles,  one  on  a  vessel  from  Mississippi,  the  other 
on  a  water-bottle  found  by  us  in  northwestern  Florida.  With  the  striking  water- 
bottle  in  Mound  0  was  a  disc  of  fine-grained  gneiss,  8.5  inches  in  diameter,  having 
the  customary  notches  and  line  decoration  (Fig.  110),  with  paint  of  three  shades,— 
white,  cream-color,  and  pink — on  one  side,  and  red  pigment  on  the  other.  Placed 
centrally  on  this  disc  was  another  disc,  undecorated,  also  of  line-grained  gneiss,  5.4 
inches  in  diameter,  showing  considerable  pigment. 

With  a  burial  of  scattered  bones,  perhaps  an  aboriginal  disturbance,  near  the 
skull,  was  Vessel  No.  10,  in  fragments.  Cemented  together,  the  vessel  shows  the 
design  of  the  woodpecker  on  each  of  two  sides,  with  speech  symbols  and  extended 
tongue,  but  with  a  variation  in  the  tails  where  the  individual  feathers  are  not  rep 
resented  as  pointed  (Fig.  117).  Probably,  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  space,  the 
lower  head  has  been  made  smaller  than  the  upper  one,  as  shown  in  diagram  in  Fig. 

1  Op.  cit.,  PI.  LI  (fig.  e),  and  PI.  LXIX. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARKIOR  RIVER. 


20' 


Kio.  116.— Stone  disc.     Mound  ( >.     (  Diameter  about  8.5  inches.) 

118.  With  Vessel  No.  10  was  Vessel  No.  11,  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  in 
fragments. 

Near  an  isolated  skull  were  Vessels  Nos.  12  and  13,  respectively  a  small  pot 
with  loop-handles  and  a  rude  bowl  in  fragments,  having  incised  line  decoration 
under  the  rim. 

Lying  apart  from  human  bones,  which  perhaps  had  decayed  awav  or  had  been 
disturbed  in  aboriginal  times,  were  the  outer  half  of  an  ear-plug  of  wood,  copper- 


208  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  117.— Vessel  No.  10.     Mound  O.     (Height  6.25  inches.) 


Fin.  118. —  Vessel  No.  10.     Decoration.     Mound  O.     (About  half  size.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  209 


coated;  Vessel  No.  14  (Fig.  lit)),  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle,  having  for  decora 
tion  depressions  surrounded  by  scrolls;  and  Vessel  No.  1">  (Fig.  120).  a  cup  with 
incised  ribbon-fold  decoration,  which  was  found  inverted  on  the  neck  of  the  water- 
bottle. 


Fie;.  119.  -Vessel  No.  14.     Mound  ().     (Diameter  5.4  iuches.) 


FIG.  120.— Vessel  No.  15.     Mound  ().     (Diameter  of  body  4  inches.) 


FIG.  121.— Vessel  No.  16.     Mound  O.     (Height  5.5  iuches.) 
27  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA..  VOL.  XIII. 


210 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


Vessel  No.  1C  is  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle,  found  in  fragments  which,  put 
together  (Fig.  121),  present  a  design  shown  in  diagram  in  Fig.  122. 

A  burial  represented  by  a  few  teeth  had  with  it  Vessels  Nos.  17,  18, '19. 
Vessel  No.  17,  of  inferior  ware,  lay  in  fragments.  Vessel  No.  18  (Fig.  123),  a  wide- 
mouthed  water-bottle,  has  a  decoration  consisting  of  down-turned  hands  alternating 
with  open  eyes.  Ou  each  hand  is  a  symbol,  perhaps  a  conventionalized  eye. 


FIG.  122.  -Vessel  No.  16.     Decoration.     .Mound  0.     (About  half  size.) 


FIG.  123.— Vessel  No.  IS.     Jlouucl  O.     (Height  6.75  inches.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


211 


FIG.  124.— Vessel  No.  19.     Mound  O.     (Diameter  of  bowl  4  inches.) 

Vessel  No.  19  (Fig.  124),  a  cup  with  a  meander  decoration,  was  found  partly 
filled  with  a  mass  of  material  which  analysis  by  Dr.  H.  F.  Keller  showed  to  be 
glauconite,  or  green  earth,  the  green  color  being  derived  from  the  presence  of  iron 
in  the  ferrous  state.  This  earth  might  have  been,  and  doubtless  was,  used  as  a  tem 
porary  paint.  The  color,  however,  would  soon  darken  through  oxidation  when 


FIG.  125. — Vessel  Xo.  20.     Mound  O.     (Height  5.2  inches.) 


212 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


exposed  to  the  air.     On  the  glauconite  within  the  cup  was  a  mussel-shell  containing 
red  pigment.     With  these  vessels  was  a  slab  of  stone,  undressed  as  to  its  sides, 
having    a    certain    concavity    of  each 
broad   surface,  on   one  of   which   was 
red  paint. 

Vessel  No.  20  (Fig.  125)  lay  in 
fragments  in  a  pit  near  bones,  but 
wiis  not  attributable  to  any  burial  in 
particular.  The  design,  similar  to 


FIG.  126.— Vessel  No.  20.     Decoration.     Mound  O. 
(About  half  sine.) 

several  found  at  Mound ville,  but  not 
noted  elsewhere,  so  far  as  we  know, 
consists  of  the  sign  of  the  four  quar 
ters  represented  by  series  of  three 
digits  pointing  in  the  four  directions. 
Centrally  are  series  of  concentric  cros 
ses  and  circles.  Between  each  series 
of  digits  is  cross-hatch,  as  shown  in 
diagram  in  Fig.  12G. 

Vessel  No.  21,  a  small,  undecora- 
ted,  wide-mouthed  water-bottle,  lay 
inverted  in  a  pit  where,  seemingly,  it 
had  been  tossed  in  a  disturbance  in 
aboriginal  times.  This  vessel  bears  a 
perforation  in  the  base,  presumably 
the  result  of  accident  at  its  first  dis- 
interment. 

Near  a  disturbed  burial  was  a 
disc  of  fine-grained  gneiss,  7  inches  in 
diameter,  having  the  usual  decoration, 
with  traces  of  white  paint  on  one  side 
and  red  on  the  other. 


Kl<;.  127. — Ceremonial    weapon    of 
chert.     Mound  O.     (Full  size.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  213 

Near  the  surface1  of  a  pit  containing  several  burials  at  greater  depth,  was  a 
ceremonial  weapon  of  cherty  material,  shown  in  Fig.  127. 

Vessels  Nos.  23,  24,  and  25.  are  all  undecorated  bowls  found  in  fragments, 
away  from  human  remains. 

Vessel  No.  20,  with  only  a  fragment  of  decaying  bone  nearby,  in  caved  soil, 
was  a  graceful  water-bottle  with  a  decoration  so  faint  that  it  can  just  be  distinguished 
in  the  half-tone  reproduction  (Fig.  128). 


FIG.  128. — VesselNo.S6.     Mound  O.     (Diameter  4.75  inches.) 

With  disturbed  bones  were  corroded  fragments  of  what  seem  to  have  been  hair- 
ornaments  of  sheet-copper,  but  their  incomplete  condition  make  absolute  identifica 
tion  impossible. 

Vessel  No.  27,  found  alone,  is  an  undecorated,  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  (Fig. 
129). 

Apart  from  human  remains  was  Vessel  No.  28.  a  broad-mouthed,  undecorated 
water-bottle  (Fig.  130),  with  Vessel  No.  29,  a  small,  undecorated  pot  that  once  had 
been  provided  with  two  loop-handles. 

Burial  No.  37  consisted  of  a  deposit  of  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones  at 
the  bottom  of  a  pit  32  inches  deep.  This  pit.  which  had  a  maximum  diameter  of 
19  inches,  had  contracted  to  13  inches  where  the  calcined  fragments  were.  The 
calcined  deposit,  somewhat  less  in  diameter  than  the  pit,  had  a  depth  of  9  inches. 
Throughout  the  soil  above  the  deposit  were  other  fragments  of  calcined  bone. 

Vessel  No.  30,  a  bowl  in  fragments,  unassociated  with  human  remains,  has  five 
encircling,  incised  lines  below  the  rirn. 


214 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  129.— Vessel  No.  27.     Mound  O. 
(Height  6.5  inches.) 


FIG.  130.— Vessel  No.  28.     Mound  0. 
(Height  5.5  inches.) 


FIG.  131. — Effigy-pipe  of  stone.     Mound  O.     (Height  8  inches.) 


In  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  mound,  3  feet  down,  were  two  effig3'-pipes. 
One,  of  carbonate  of  lime,  representing  an  animal,  had  so  deteriorated  through  lapse 
of  time  and  long  contact  with  moisture  that  the  consistency  was  about  that  of  clay  ; 
in  fact,  the  clay  surrounding  the  pipe  was  of  greater  tenacity  than  it,  as,  upon 
removal,  the  pipe  left  small  particles  adhering  to  the  soil.  The  other,  found  lying 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  215 


Km.  132.— Effigy-pipe  of  stone.     Mound  O.     (Height  8  inches.) 

on  its  side,  immediately  with  the  one  just  described,  is  a  fine  effigy-pipe  of  soft,  red 
claystone,  8  inches  high,  representing  a  squatting  male  figure,  shown  in  both  front 
and  side  view  in  Figs.  131,  132.  Unfortunately  the  knees,  part  of  the  right  arm, 
the  right  hand,  and  part  of  the  left  hand,  of  the  effigy,  had  all  been  broken  oft" 


210  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


Fl<;.  133. — Vessel  No.  31.     Mound  O.     (Diameter  of  bowl  4.75  inches.) 


KII;.  1U1.— (Jorget  of  sheet-copper.     Mound  O.     (Full  size.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


217 


FIG.  135.  —  Vessel  No.  37.     Mound  O.     (Diameter  4.23  inches.) 


before  interment  mid  hence  were  not  found.  These  pipes  were  not  immediately 
associated  with  burials,  though  human  bones  were  found  not  far  distant. 

With  disturbed  bones,  together, 
were  Vessels  Nos.  31,  32,  and  33.  Ves 
sel  No.  31,  a  cup,  has  a  kind  of  mean 
der  in  a  cross-hatch  field  (Fig.  133). 
Vessel  No.  32  was  badly  broken.  Ves 
sel  No.  33,  also  in  fragments,  proved 
to  be  a  small  bowl  with  slightly  inver 
ted  rim  and  incised  decoration  consist 
ing  of  two  encircling,  parallel  lines 
passing  under  four  equidistant  protu 
berances  situated  slightly  below  the 
rim. 

With  Burial  No.  40,  a  skull  and 
a  few  decaying  bones  probably  repre 
senting  a  skeleton,  were  Vessels  Nos. 
34  and  35.  Nearby  were  Vessel  No. 

36,  in  fragments,  and  a  mass  of  galena  (lead  sulphide)  the  surface  of  which  is  coated 
with  a  cream-colored  deposit  of  carbonate  of  lead,  suitable  for  use  as  paint.  Vessel 
No.  34  is  a  small,  coarse,  undecorated,  wide-mouthed  water-bottle.  Vessel  No.  35, 
a  small,  coarse  bowl,  has  rudely  executed,  incised,  curved  lines  below  an  in-turned 
rim.  Vessel  No.  30  was  badly  broken.  Adhering  to  fragments  of  bone  belonging  to 
the  trunk  of  this  burial,  enveloped  in  decayed  wood  or  bark,  was  a  circular  gorget 
of  sheet-copper,  6.5  inches  in  diameter,  which  broke  slightly  on  removal.  This  gor 
get,  pieced  together,  shows  a  central  swastika  formed  by  excision,  surrounded  by 
many  repousse  circles  (Fig.  134). 

Vessel  No.  37,  of  eccentric  form  (Fig.  135),  is  of  a  type  once  before  represented 
in  our  search  at  Moundville,  in  which  a  portion  of  the  rim  is  much  lower  than  the 
remainder.  This  vessel  has  been  repaired  and  slightly  restored. 

In  the  northeastern  corner  of  the  mound,  near  a  disturbed  burial,  was  an  orna 
ment  of  sheet-copper  in  fragments  and  a  small  mass  of  lead  sulphide.  At  the  distal 
end  of  one  femur  belonging  to  this  burial  were  large  shell  beads,  and  similar  shell 
beads  were  at  the  distal  extremities  of  the  leg  bones,  which  were  in  the  pit  at  some 
distance  from  the  femurs. 

With  a  burial  was  a  ball  of  black  substance,  about  two  inches  in  diameter, 
showing  various  facets  where  presumably  material  had  been  rubbed  oft'  for  use  as 
paint.  Analysis  by  Dr.  H.  F.  Keller  proved  the  mineral  to  be  psilomelane,  a 
hydra  ted  peroxide  of  manganese  containing  considerable  quantities  of  oxide  of 
cobalt. 

Shell  beads  twice,  fragments  of  sheet-copper  twice,  and   single  ear-plugs  three 

times,  were  found  in  this  mound  in  addition  to  examples  given  in  detailed  description. 

In  this  mound  human  bones  were  met  with  in  forty-two  places,  exclusive  of 

28  JOURX.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XIII. 


218  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

small  fragments  here  and  there.  The  burials,  very  badly  decayed,  were  scattered 
to  a  much  greater  extent  than  were  most  of  those  encountered  by  us  at  Mound- 
ville.  Presumably  the  superficial  part  of  the  mound  had  been  dug  and  redug  for 
burial  purposes  to  such  an  extent  that  but  few  entire  burials  remained. 

The  situation  in  which  burials  occurred  in  this  mound  was  contrary  to  what 
had  been  found  to  be  the  general  rule,  for  while  two  or  three  burials  were  present 
in  the  northeastern  corner,  no  other  burials  were  met  with  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  mound  until  the  southeastern  corner  was  reached.  On  the  other  hand,  burials 
were  numerous  along  the  entire  western  side  with  the  exception  of  the  southwestern 
corner.  Certain  burials  were  present  in  the  northwestern  part  and  some  in  central 
parts. 

This  symmetrical  mound  was  carefully  filled  by  us,  as  were  all  others  at 
Moundville  where  dug  into  by  us ;  in  addition,  as  we  had  encroached  somewhat  on 
the  sides  of  Mound  0,  boards  were  placed  at  marginal  points,  projecting  above  the 
soil,  to  prevent  subsequent  wash  of  the  soft  material. 

FIELD  EAST  OF   MOUND  0. 

Near  the  base  of  Mound  0,  on  the  eastern  side,  a  number  of  trial-holes  were 
dug  by  us  in  a  cultivated  field,  resulting  in  the  finding  of  an  adult  skeleton,  ex 
tended  on  the  back,  and,  in  another  place,  the  skeleton  of  an  infant,  having  near 
the  head  an  interesting  little  vessel  with  incised  line  decoration  and  projections  at 
each  end  (Fig.  136). 


FIQ.  13C. — Vessel  No.  1.     Field  east  of  Mound  O.  FIG.  137. — Ornament  of  earthenware. 

(Maximum  diameter  3.75  inches.)  Field  east  of  Mound  O.     (Full  size.) 

Apart  from  human  remains,  in  other  holes,  were  a  small  discoidal  of  amphi- 
bolite  and  a  flat,  polished,  annular  ornament  of  hard  earthenware,  about  1.75  inch 
in  diameter  (Fig.  137).  This  ornament  is  provided  with  two  holes  for  suspension 
and  a  central  opening  surrounded  by  incised  decoration.  The  object  seems  to  have 
been  made  expressly  for  an  ornament  and  not  shaped  from  a  fragment  of  vessel. 

MOUND  P. 

Mound  P  has  a  summit  plateau  75  feet  in  width  on  the  north  and  on  the  south, 
and  95  feet  long  on  the  west.  Its  length  on  the  eastern  side  is  120  feet.  The 
plateau  has  a  very  decided  slope  downward  from  south  to  north.  Twenty  trial- 
holes  revealed  no  sign  of  burials  or  of  pits. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


21!) 


Morxi)  (). 

Mound  (I  showed  no  sign  of  previous  cultivation  or  of  discing  for  relics,  though 
much  of  the  eastern  side  had  heen  destroyed  apparently  to  make  a  roadway  to  the 

top  of  the  mound  at  the  northern  end, 
presumably  for  a  house  that  may  have 
occupied  the  plateau  in  recent  times. 
The  summit  plateau,  57  feet  across  on 
the  north,  43  feet  on  the  south,  52  feet 
on  the  west,  and  but  19  feet  on  the 
east  where  the  road  entered,  had  rather 
rich  soil  in  places,  which  often  indi 
cates  the  presence  of  burials.  Nine 
trial-holes  were  made  without  finding 
burials,  though  the  earthenware  head 
of  an  owl.  which  had  belonged  to  a 


FIG.  138. — Part  of  earthenware  vessel.     Mound  O.. 
(About  full  size.) 


FIG.  140.— Vessel  No.  1.     Field  north  of  Mouud  Q. 
(Diameter  4.5  inches.) 


FIG.  139.— Ornament  of  sheet-copper.     Mound  Q. 
(Full  size.) 

vessel  (Fig.  138).  and  a  small  ornament 
of  sheet-copper,  representing  a  six- 
pointed  star  within  a  circle  (Fig.  139), 
were  met  with  in  the  soil. 

FIKLD  NORTH  OF  MOUND  (). 

Directly  north  of  Mound  (.J  was  a 
small  cultivated  patch  of  ground  in 
which  some  digging  was  done  by  us. 
It  became  apparent,  however,  that, 
owing  to  cultivation  and  wash  of  rain, 
burials  had  been  carried  away  or  left 
so  near  to  the  surface  that  their  accom 
panying  artifacts  had  sustained  injury 
from  the  plow. 

A  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the 
back  had  at  its  head  a  small  pot  with 
two  loop-handles  and  repousse  decora 
tion  (Fig.  140). 

A  number  of  other  burials  were 
without  artifacts. 


220  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR   RIVER. 

MOUND  R. 

Mound  R,  with  a  summit  plateau  165  feet  by  180  feet,  approximately,  which 
had  long  been  under  cultivation,  had  the  appearance  of  having  lost  about  3  feet  in 
height  over  much  of  its  horizontal  surface  through  cultivation  and  wasli  of  rain. 
This  conclusion  was  reached  from  the  fact  that,  at  the  edge  of  the  plateau,  in  places 
where  the  roots  of  trees  hold  the  soil,  the  level  is  several  feet  above  that  of  the  rest 
of  the  plateau.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  possible  that  the  elevated  portion  of  the 
plateau  is  the  remains  of  a  rampart  or  wall  that  originally  surrounded  the  plateau 
and  that  the  trees  growing  upon  this  raised  portion  are  not  the  cause  of  its  existence 
but  simply  were  allowed  to  remain  when  the  rest  of  the  plateau  was  cleared  for 
cultivation,  because  the  part  on  which  the  trees  are  was  too  steep  for  use.  Twenty- 
seven  trial-holes  in  this  plateau  gave  no  indication  of  its  former  use  as  a  place  of 
burial. 

RIDGK  NORTH  OF  MOUND  R. 

Northwest  of  Mound  R,  is  an  old-time  cemetery  for  colored  persons.  Reports 
are  current  in  Moundville  that  in  digging  graves  at  this  place  many  relics  have  been 
unearthed,  but  considerable  investigation  by  us  on  the  borders  of  this  cemetery  were 
without  material  result. 

East  of  the  cemetery  are  a  patch  of  cultivated  ground,  then  a  strip  of  land 
with  trees  upon  it,  and,  beyond,  another  cultivated  patch.  The  wooded  strip,  about 
200  feet  long  and  50  feet  across,  is  bounded  on  the  north  bv  the  river  bluff  and  on 
the  south  by  Mound  R,  The  northern  75  feet  of  this  tract  (marked  U  on  the 
survey),  which  formed  a  ridge  or  low  mound  somewhat  above  the  level  of  the 
remainder  of  it,  which  was  that  of  the  adjacent  fields,  were  thoroughly  dug  through 
by  us  to  a  depth  of  from  3  to  4.5  feet.  Even  at  this  depth  it  was  impossible  to  say 
that  undisturbed  ground  had  been  reached  in  all  cases,  as  fragments  of  pottery  and 
other  midden  refuse  lay  at  still  lower  levels.  Presumably  this  territory  had  long- 
been  occupied  as  a  dwelling  site.  No  pits,  however,  extended  to  a  depth  greater 
than  4  feet,  and  it  was  in  pits  that  burials  seemed  to  occur. 

A  considerable  area  surrounding  this  ridge,  including  the  southern  part  of  the 
wooded  strip  from  which  the  ridge  rose,  was  dug  by  us  extensively  but  with  only 
negative  result. 

The  low  ridge  dug  by  us.  which  attained  its  maximum  height  almost  at  its 
northern  end,  contained  a  few  burials  here  and  there  throughout;  but  the  great 
majority  of  interments  and  all  artifacts  of  importance  came  from  the  northeastern 
end,  where  grave-pits  had  been  dug  and  redug  to  the  great  detriment  of  skeletons 
and  of  objects  buried  with  them. 

At  intervals  in  the  mound  were  pits,  some  of  considerable  size,  containing 
refuse  and  apparently  not  intended  for  burial  purposes.  One  pit,  which  began  30 
inches  from  the  surface  and  evidently  had  been  formed  during  the  accretion  of  the 
mound,  was  10  inches  deep  and  14  inches  in  diameter.  Bordering  it  were  marks  of 
fire,  and  clay  hardened  by  Haine.  In  this  little  pit.  or  oven,  were  ashes,  charcoal, 
bits  of  pottery,  and  deer-bones. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK   WARRIOR  RIVER.  221 

In  the  mound  also  were  flat  fire-places,  one  at  least  having  clay  hardened  like 
brick  from  continued  heat. 

A  [lot-shaped  deposit,  8  inches  in  diameter,  (i  inches  deep,  beginning  2  feet  from 
the  surface,  seemingly  composed  of  slips  of  charred  cane,  was  found  away  from 
human  remains. 

Also  apart  from  human  hones  was  a  deposit  of  charred  woven  material  and 
charcoal. 

Remains  of  the  deer  were  scattered  throughout  the  mound.  In  one  place  were 
hones  of  what  must  have  been  a  large  part  of  the  carcass  of  one. 

Throughout  the  mound  was  the  usual  midden  refuse  and  other  objects,  including 
bits  of  mica,  a  number  of  rough  discoidal  stones,  hammer-stones,  pebbles,  hones, 
pitted  stones,  and  a  great  number  of  fragments  of  polished  "  celts."  These  frag 
ments,  which  had  been  broken  by  use  and  not  in  process  of  manufacture,  as  the 
high  polish  on  parts  of  them  show,  number  from  forty  to  fifty.  They  were  present 
in  all  parts  of  the  mound  and  were  found  with  burials  twice — probably  an  accidental 
association.  This  great  number  of  fragments  of  "celts"  in  a  mound  or  dwelling- 
site  is  new  in  our  experience. 

But  one  unbroken  "celt"  was  met  with — a  neatly  made  hatchet  of  volcanic 
rock,  4  inches  long,  lying  apart  from  any  burial. 

Also  in  the  mound  were  two  fragments  of  scalloped  stone  discs. 

Throughout  all  the  digging  of  this  low  mound  but  one  arrowhead  was  met 
with — a  small  projectile  point  of  red  jasper.  This  fact  emphasizes  the  marked 
scarcity  of  arrowheads  noted  by  us  during  our  digging,  and  throughout  our  surface 
survevs,  at  Moumlville. 

k/ 

In  all  the  digging  in  this  low  ridge  but  one  fragment  of  quartzite  was  found, 
so  far  as  our  observation  went.  Abundance  of  this  material,  however,  lay  on  the 
surface  of  the  field  north  of  Mound  D. 

Part  of  an  interesting  pipe,  probably  of  stone  belonging  to  the  amphibole  group, 
with  the  head  of  a  turtle  projecting 
from  the  bowl,  lay  alone  in  the  soil 
(Fig.  141).  Similar  protruding  heads 
of  turtles  are  found  on  vessels  of  earth 
enware  along  the  northwestern  Florida 
coast. 

Two  small,  flat  slabs  of  hematite, 
each  with  several  facets  as  if  produced 
bv  rubbing,  were  found  separately. 

Throughout  the  mound  were  frag 
ments  of  very  large  vessels,  of  coarse 
shell-tempered  ware,  evidently  belong- 

1   •  ,    ;]„  ,1-Itl,  FIG.  141.— Part  of  stone  pipe  with  bead  of  turtle, 

lllg     to     COoklllg     Utensils,     mail\      \\ltll  Ridge  north  of  Mound  S.     (Kullsize.) 

loop-handles,  calling  to  mind  the  great 

vessels  found  by  us   along  the    Alabama    river    where,  however,  they  had    been 

utilized  for  urn-burials. 


999 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


Several  effigies  of  heads  of  birds  were  met  with,  including  the  head  of  an  owl, 
ornaments  which  had  been  broken  from  earthenware  vessels. 

Many  fragments  of  excellent  black  ware  were  scattered  throughout  the  mound, 
especially  in  the  northeastern  part,  where  most  of  the  burials  were.  These  frag 
ments  presumably  belonged  to  vessels  that  had  been  placed  with  burials  but  which 
later  were  broken  in  the  digging  and  redigging  of  that  part  of  the  mound  in  which 
they  occurred.  One  sherd  of  excellent  ware  and  with  artistic  decoration  is  shown 
in  Fig.  142. 

A  part  of  a  cooking  vessel,  with  a  series  of  small  loop-handles  below  the  rim. 
lay  in  the  mound. 


FIG.  142.— Sherd.    Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (Full  size.) 

There  were  found  also  pottery  discs  made  from  parts  of  vessels;  two  stopper- 
shaped  objects  of  earthenware,  one  somewhat  broken  ;  part  of  what  seems  to  have 
been  a  toy  ladle  of  pottery  ;  and  part  of  a  disc  of  pottery  not  made  from  a  frag 
ment  of  vessel  but  directly  as  an  ornament,  as  is  shown  by  the  surface  which  is 
polished  although  there  is  a  gradation  in  thickness  between  the  central  part  and  the 
margin.  Around  the  margin  are  notches,  and  incised  decoration  is  on  one  side  of 
the  specimen.  There  are  two  holes  for  suspension. 

Two  piercing  implements  of  bone,  several  tines  of  deer-horn,  and  various 
mussel-shells,  one  very  large  (Lampsilis  purpuratus\  were  in  the  midden  debris. 

In  a  mound  where  there  had  been  so  much  disturbance,  one  burial  often  dis 
placing  another,  an  exact  record  of  the  number  of  burials  and  their  form  is  impos 
sible  to  give.  In  cases  where  a  burial  obviously  had  been  made  in  a  certain  way, 
but  had  undergone  partial  disturbance,  it  has  been  classed  by  us  under  its  original 
form.  We  have  designated  as  aboriginal  disturbances  such  bones  as  were  too  much 
scattered  to  afford  evidence  of  their  original  positions.  Burials  lay  from  just  below 
the  surface  to  a  depth,  in  one  instance,  of  4  feet.  There  were  in  the  mound  : 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  223 

Skeletons  at  full  length  on  the  hack,  including  two  children — 3S. 

Aboriginal  disturbances,  including  seven  children — 15. 

Skeleton  flexed  on  the  right  side — I. 

Skeleton  flexed  on  the  left  side — 1. 

Skeleton  of  child,  partly  Hexed — I. 

Bones  of  infant — 1. 

Decayed  hones  of  child — 1. 

Bones  of  children  disturbed  by  our  diggers — 2. 

Bunched  burials,  including  that  of  a  child — 3. 

Lone  skull — 1. 

The  vessels  of  earthenware  from  this  mound  will  be  described  in  detail. 

Vessel  No.  1. — This  vessel,  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle  of  highly-polished, 
black  ware  (Fig.  143),  lay  near  the  skull  of  a  child.  The  decoration  consists  of  the 
symbol  of  the  four  quarters,  the  cross,  which  is  here  represented  by  four  series  each 
of  three  digits  having  conventional  finger-nails.  In  addition,  are  depressions  in  the 
body  of  the  vessel,  series  of  fingers  pointing  upward  and  downward,  and  certain 
cross-hatch  decoration,  as  shown  in  diagram  in  Fig.  144.  Designs  generally  similar 
to  that  on  this  vessel,  but  varying  somewhat  in  minor  details,  were  found  several 
times  at  Moundville.  With  Vessel  No.  1  were  a  shell  drinking-cup  (Fulgur  per- 
versuf/t),  and  Vessels  Nos.  2  and  3,  respectively,  an  undecorated,  broad-mouthed 
water-bottle  and  a  rude  bowl  bearing  in  effigy  the  head  of  some  animal,  looking 
inward. 

Vessel  No.  4. — An  undecorated  water-bottle  (Fig.  145)  lay  at  the  head  of  a 
skeleton. 

Vessel  No.  5. — In  the  outskirts  of  the  mound,  away  from  human  remains,  was 
a  large  part  of  a  coarse  cooking-pot.  Within  this  fragment  was  a  beautiful  tov- 
bowl,  1.5  inch  in  diameter  and  1  inch  in  height,  symmetrically  wrought  from  a 
chocolate-colored,  banded  stone. 

Vessel  No.  (>. — A  neat  little  bowl  with  inverted  rim,  having  faint,  incised 
decoration,  found  at  the  head  of  a  skeleton. 

Vessel  No.  7. — A  bowl  in  fragments,  lying  near  the  skull  of  a  child. 

Vessel  No.  8. — About  two-thirds  of  a  bowl  having  a  large,  flat  handle  projecting 
horizontally  from  one  side.  The  opposite  part  of  the  bowl  is  missing. 

Vessel  No.  9. — A  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  buck  had  charcoal  at  the  feet 
and  minute  fragments  of  a  sheet-copper  ornament  nearby.  At  the  head  was  a  wide- 
mouthed  water-bottle  (Fig.  14G)1  bearing  an  engraved  decoration,  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  it  has  been  our  good  fortune  to  encounter.  This  design,  shown  in 
diagram  in  Fig.  147,  consists  of  four  skulls  facing  each  other  in  pairs,  with  two 
skeleton  arms  and  heads  between  them.  In  addition,  two  symbols  are  given,  the 
meaning  of  which  is  entirely  beyond  our  ken.  The  skulls  show  the  sutures  and 

1  The  design  has  not  been  strengthened  on  the  vessel,  nor  lias  retouching  been  done  on  the  pho 
tographic  negative.  A  white  powder  has  been  rubbed  into  the  lines  of  the  design  in  order  to  bring 
them  out  more  clearly  in  the  photograph. 

Erratum. — In  the  second  line  from  the  bottom  of  this  page  the  word  "  heads  "  should  be  " 


,2-24 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  143.— Vessel  No.  1.     liid^e  north  of  Mound  IJ.     (Height  5.75  inches.) 

the  orbits,  but  part  of  the  lower  jaw  is  incorrectly  placed,  being  portrayed  as  ex 
tending  beyond  the  occipital  part  of  the  skull. 

While  it  is  possible  that  this  anatomically  incorrect  representation  of  the  lower 
jaw  arose  through  ignorance,  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  aborigines  of  Mound- 
ville  were  very  familiar  with  the  human  skeleton,  lying  exposed,  as  it  did,  in  the 
dead-houses  and  later  being  a  center  of  interest  during  the  performance  of  funeral 
rites. 

Possibly  the  lower  jaw  was  accentuated  by  the  artists  of  Moundville  because 
of  its  being  regarded  as  a  symbol  of  importance,  as  it  was  by  the  Mexicans,  and 
perhaps  this  consensus  of  opinion  arose  through  "parallelism  of  thought." 

On  the  other  hand,  it  seems  likely  enough  that  the  people  of  Moundville,  to 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  2l>5 


FIG.  144.— Vessel  Xo.  1.     Decoration.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R. 
(About  half  size.) 


Km.  143. — Vessel  No.  4.     Kidge  north  of  Mound  R. 
(Diameter  7  inches.) 


KUJ.  146.— Vessel  No.  9.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (Full  size.) 
29  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XIII. 


22G 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


some  extent,  were  directly  influenced  from  Mexico.  If  such  were  the  case,  the 
cause  of  the  misrepresentation  of  the  ramus  on  these  skulls  would  not  be  far  to 
seek.  The  Mexican  codices  are  replete  with  representations  of  the  lower  jaw, 
shown  in  place  in  the  skull  and  in  the  head,  and  sometimes  even  drawn  alone, 
flattened  out,  as  in  a  diagram,  or  represented  as  a  receptacle  for  various  objects.  In 
many,  if  not  in  all,  of  these  representations  the  articular  process  is  exaggerated, 
being  given  the  form  of  a  hook.  Presumably  this  was  done  because  the  artist  re 
garded  the  articular  process  as  a  distinctive  feature  of  the  lower  jaw  and  hence 
was  determined  that  it  should  not  escape  attention.  Miss  H.  Newell  Wardle,  of 
our  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  many  references  on 
this  subject,  has  called  our  attention  to  the  point  that,  presumably,  this  empha 
sizing  of  the  articular  process  of  the  lower  jaw  is  an  expression  of  the  aesthetic 


FIG.  147.— Vessel  No.  9.     Decoration.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (About  half  size.) 

law  familiar  from  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  where  the  dorsal  fin  of  the  orca 
is  always  placed  conspicuously  in  representation,  though  in  a  majority  of  cases  it 
would  be  invisible  from  the  view-point.  In  the  same  way,  the  Egyptians  show  the 
human  eye,  when  the  head  is  in  profile,  very  much  as  if  the  human  head  conformed 
anatomical!  v  to  that  of  a  fish. 

»/ 

So  determined  was  the  Mexican  artist  that  the  essential  attributes  of  the  lower 
jaw  should  not  escape  attention  that  we  see  the  jaw,  represented  in  place  in  the 
skull,  still  showing  the  articular  processes,  although  presenting  a  front  view  to  the 
observer.  A  good  example  of  this  is  shown  in  Codex  Magliabecchiano.1 

The  codices,  however,  it  must  be  noted,  so  far  as  our  search  goes,  show  no  such 
great  exaggeration  of  the  articular  part  of  the  lower  jaw,  or  perhaps  of  the  whole 
ramus,  as  we  find  at  Moundville,  where  part  of  the  lower  jaw  is  represented  as 
extending  beyond  the  occipital  part  of  the  skull. 

The  skeleton  fore-arm  shown  on  this  vessel  from  Moundville,  with  the  radius 
and  ulna  distinctly  represented,  has  a  parallel  in  many  figures  in  the  codices.  An 

1  XIII,  3,  p.  76. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

interesting  example  is  given  in  Codex  Nuttall.1  where  Mictlantecutli,  "lord  of  the 
place  of  the  slain,"  shows  the  ribs,  vertebra?,  the  bones  of  both  lower  extremities, 
of  one  upper  arm,  and  of  both  fore-arms.  Curiously  enough,  a  peculiarity  of  most 
of  the  Mexican  figures  of  the  death-god  is  that  to  correspond  with  the  double  bones 
of  the  lower  arm  and  the  leg.  the  hmnerus  of  the  upper  arm  and  the  femur  of  the 
thigh  an-  shown  as  double  bones  also — a  feature  well  brought  out  in  the  figure  to 
which  we  have  referred. 

The  reader  is  referred  to  a  few  of  very  many  representations  in  the  codices,  of 
the  lower  jaw  and  of  skeletal  extremities.* 


FIG.  148.— Vessel  No.  11.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  K.     (Height  5.4  inches.) 

Holmes3  shows  a  death's  head  design  on  a  vessel  from  Mississippi. 

Vessel  No.  10,  a  small,  wide-mouthed  water-bottle,  lay  with  the  scattered  bones 
of  a  child,  with  which  were  two  shell  beads,  each  about  an  inch  in  length. 

Vessels  Nos.  11  and  12  were  together  near  a  few  scattered  bones.  The  former, 
a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  (Fig.  148),  has  five  depressions  on  the  body,  with  each 

1  P.  78,  lower  right-hand  corner. 
"  Codex  Vaticauus  B.,  pp.  75,  76. 

Codex  Laud,  Kingsborough,  II,  p.  11. 

Codex  Borgia,  Loubat  edition,  Pi.  XXVI. 


Codex  Borgia,  Kingsborough,  III,  pp.  59,  63,  65. 
Codex  Cospiano,  Loubat  edition,  PI.  IX,  X,  XI. 
Codex  Tejervary-Mayer,  PI.  Ill,  XXXII. 


Op.  cit.,  PI.  LVI. 


228 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


of  which  is  a  design  probably  representing  an  arrow  and  the  sun.  Vessel  No.  12  is 
a  small,  undecorated  dish  of  coarse,  yellow  ware. 

Vessel  No.  13  is  a  diminutive,  wide-mouthed  water-bottle,  undecorated,  scarcely 
more  than  2  inches  in  height.  This  little  bottle,  found  dissociated  from  human 
bones,  was  in  a  pit  where  aboriginal  disturbance,  no  doubt,  had  separated  it  from 
its  burial. 

Vessel  No.  14,  a  bowl  with  parts  of  a  water-bottle,  badly  crushed,  lay  not 
immediately  associated  with  bones,  thoush  as  at  least  seven  burials  lav  in  the  pit  in 

•J  »  1 

which  the  vessel  was  found,  the  cause  of  the  separation  may  well  be  imagined. 
With  it  were  crumbling  fragments  of  sheet-copper  and  a  shell  gorget  (Fig.  149), 
bearing  a  bird  decoration,  which  received  a  blow  from  a  trowel. 

Vessel  No.  15,  a  wide-mouthed  water- 
bottle  with  scroll  decoration  and  four 
groups  of  three  finger-tips  each,  pointing 
downward,  lay  badly  crushed  at  the  head 


FIG.  149. — Shell  gorget.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R. 
(Full  size.) 


Flu.  150. — Vessel  No.  Ifm.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R. 
(Diameter  5.5  inches.) 


of  a  skeleton.  With  this  vessel  was  Vessel  No.  I5a,  part  of  a  small  bowl  with  four 
equidistant  protuberances  (Fig.  150). 

Vessel  No.  16,  is  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle  in  fragments  scattered  through 
a  pit,  having  the  well-known  depressions  and  scroll  decoration. 

Vessel  No.  17,  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle  (Fig.  151),  found  at  the  head  of  a 
skeleton,  bears  on  opposite  sides  an  engraved  design  representing  an  antlered  and 
winged  rattlesnake  with  forked  tongue  extended.  This  design,  which  we  give 
diagrammatically  in  Fig.  152,  suggests  the  winged  and  crested  rattlesnake  shown  by 
Holmes1  as  on  a  vessel  from  Arkansas,  and  referred  to  as  "  one  of  the  most  re 
markable  ever  obtained  from  the  mounds."  "There  can  belittle  doubt,"  says  Pro 
fessor  Holmes,  "  that  the  figures  of  this  design  are  derived  from  the  mythologic  art 
of  the  people." 

Vessels  Nos.  18,  19,  20. — These  vessels,  respectively,  a  small  bowl  with  beaded 
margin ;  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle  with  incised  decoration  showing  five  open 
hands  pointing  downward,  on  each  of  which  is  an  open  eye  (Fig.  153) ;  and  a  pot 
with  four  loop-handles,  each  bearing  three  small  protuberances  (Fig.  154),  were 
present  together  under  the  chest  of  a  skeleton.  As  there  had  been  much  disturb- 

1  Op.  cit,  p.  91. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


229 


Flo.  151. — Vessel  Xo.  17.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (Height  6  inches.) 

aiice  in  the  pit  in  which  these  vessels  were,  and  as  disturbed  skeletons  (of  children) 
were  near  at  hand,  it  is  possible  that  these  vessels,  originally  placed  at  the  head  of 
a  skeleton,  owed  their  final  position  to  the  general  disturbance  that  had  prevailed  in 
the  pit.  Vessel  No.  20,  which  had  a  small  perforation  somewhat  above  the  base, 
was  found  among  roots  of  a  tree,  and  had  sustained  a  fracture  of  the  rim  through 
their  agency.  Presumably  the  perforation  on  the  side  is  traceable  to  the  same  cause. 


FIG.  152. — Vessel  Xo.  17.     Decoration.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (About  half  si/.e.} 


230  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  155.  — Vessel  No.  23.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (Diameter  6  75  inches.) 


FIG.  153. — Vessel  No.  19.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  K. 
(Diameter  3.5  inches. 


Fid.  154.  — Vessel  No.  20.     Kidge  north  of  Mound  K. 
(Diameter  6  inches.) 


FIG.  156. — Vessel  No.  24.    Ridge  north  of  Mound  K.     (Diameter  4.25  inches.) 


Vessel  No.  21,  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  with  depressions  and  scroll  deco 
ration,  lav  near  the  skull  ol'  Burial  No.  33,  with  other  objects  to  be  described  later. 

Vessel  No.  22.  an  undecorated,  broad-mouthed  water-bottle,  lay  near  the  scat 
tered  bones  of  a  child. 

Vessel  No.  23,  a  pot  found  in  fragments,  having  notched  decoration  around  the 
rim  and  two  loop-handles  (Fig.  155).  There  have  been  four  equidistant  projections 
on  the  body  of  the  vessel,  one  of  which  belongs  on  a  part  not  recovered  by  ns.  The 
ware  of  this  vessel,  black  and  polished,  is  superior  to  that  usually  found  in  Mound- 
ville  vessels  of  its  shape. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


231 


Vessel  No.  24,  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle  with  two  incised  designs  repre 
senting  four  conventionalized  tails  of  wood-peckers,  in  pairs  (Fig.  150). 

Vessel  No.  25,  an  undecorated  vessel,  hopelessly  crushed. 

Vessel  No.  20,  a  wide-mouthed  water-bottle  (Fig.  157).  bearing  the  incised 
meander  shown  in  diagram  in  Fig.  158. 

Vessel  No.  27.  an  interesting  water-bottle,  of  which  a  part  only  was  recovered; 
the  remainder  has  been  restored.  The  decoration,  on  the  original  part  of  the  vessel, 
consisting  of  down-turned  hands  in  low  relief,  is  shown  in  diagram  in  Fig.  159. 

Vessel  No.  28,  an  undecorated  bowl  found   lying,  as  usual,  near  a  skull. 

Vessel  No.  29,  a  small,  rude  pot  of  coarse  ware,  having  a  loop-handle  on  one 
side  and  the  remains  of  one  on  the  other,  found  apart  from  human  remains. 


FIG.  137.— Vessel  Xo.  2fi.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  K.     (Diameter  5.25  inches.) 


FIG.  158.— Vessel  No.  26.     Decoration.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (About  half  size.) 


232 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  159. —  Vessel  No.  27.     Decoration.     Bidge  north  of  Mound  R.     (About  half  size.) 

Vessel  No.  30  consists  of  the  lower  part  of  ;i  water-bottle,  found  in  a  pit  near 
disturbed  human  remains  (Fig.  160).  The  decoration,  which  is  most  interesting, 
represents  the  head,  tail  and  wings  of  an  antlered  and  winged  rattlesnake,  as 
shown  in  diagram  in  Fig.  161.  With  this  vessel  was  part  of  an  undecorated  bowl. 

Vessel  No.  31,  exact  details  as  to  the  rinding  of  which  are  not  in  our  field  notes, 
is  a  broad-mouthed  water-bottle  with  the  incised  meander  decoration  shown  in 
Fig.  162. 

With  the  exception  of  earthenware,  but  few  objects  had  been  deposited  with 
the  dead  in  this  low  mound  ;  but  such  as  were  placed  there  fully  made  up  in  quality 
for  the  deficiency  in  number. 

In  the  outskirts  of  the  mound  lay  a  skeleton  extended  on  the  back,  having 
near  the  skull  part  of  a  polished  -'celt"  and  a  very  rude  maul,  probably  of  diorite, 


. 


FIG.  160.— Vessel  No.  30.     Ridge  north  of  Mouud  R.     (Diameter  5  inches.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


233 


Fio.  161.— Vessel  No.  30.     Decoration.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (About  half  size.) 

13  inches  in  length,  shattered  by  blows  at  one  end,  having  a  shallow,  encircling 
groove,  where  it  had  been  fastened  to  a  handle,  somewhat  more  than  half-way  above 
the  heavier  end. 

With  bits  of  femur  and  fragments  of  other  decaying  bones  was  a  rude,  un- 
decorated  smoking-pipe  of  coarse  ware  and  of  ordinary  type. 

In  a  grave-pit  was  a  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  back,  above  disturbed  bones 
of  a  child.  Near  these  remains  were  shell  beads,  a  shell  gorget  having  a  cross 
within  a  circle  and  a  scalloped  margin  on  one  side  (Fig.  163),  and  fragments  of  sheet- 
copper.  On  the  vertex  of  the  skull  of  the  adult  were  two  beads  of  wood  overlaid 


FIG.  103.— Shell  gorget.     Ridge  north 
of  Mound  R.     (Full  size.) 


FIG.  162.— Vessel  No.  31.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (Height  5.75  inches.) 
30  JOCRN*.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA..  VOL.  XIII. 


FIG.  164.— Copper  fish-hook. 
Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (Full  size.) 


234  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  165.— Effigy-pipe  of  limestone.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (Full  size.) 


/ 


.fc 


¥ 


FIG.  166.— Effigy-pipe  of  limestone.     Side  view.     Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.     (Length  5.75  inches.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


235 


FIG.  167.— Stone  vessel.     Eidge  north  of  Mound  E.     (About  half  size.) 

with  sheet-copper,  each  somewhat  less  than  an  inch  in  diameter.  Part  of  the  skull 
is  stained  green  from  contact  with  the  metal.  Nearby,  in  the  soil,  was  a  copper 
fish-hook  (Fig.  104),  unbarbed,  but  grooved  to  receive  a  line.  We  believe  this  to  be 
the  only  fish-hook  of  copper  ever  discovered  in  southern  United  States. 

Directly  under  the  head  of  a  disturbed  skeleton  was  a  disc  of  fine-grained 
gneiss,  5.5  inches  in  diameter,  with  notched  margin,  and  having  a  trace  of  white 
paint  on  one  side  and  a  quantity  of  red  pigment  on  the  other.  With  the  disc  were 
twelve  spherical  shell  beads  each  about  .6  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 


23G  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


FIG.  168.— Stone  vessel.     Duck's  head,  side  view.     (Slightly  under  full  size.) 

On  the  chest  of  a  partly  disturbed  skeleton  were  fragments  of  a  shell  gorget. 
In  a  pit,  1  7  inches  from  the  surface,  were  the  remains  of  a  skeleton  of  an  adult, 
on  its  back,  the  part  extending  from  about  half-way  down  the  trunk  having  been 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  23 


FIG.  169. — Stone  vessel.     Duck's  head,  front  view.     (Slightly  under  full  size.) 

cut  off  in  making  space  for  another  interment.  At  the  skull  were  Vessel  No.  21, 
also  parts  of  an  undecorated  vessel,  and  bits  of  sheet-copper  and  shell  beads.  With 
these,  immediately  against  the  skull,  was  an  effigy-pipe  of  limestone,  or  possibly 


238  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

phosphate  rock,  doubtless  representing  a  panther,  since  neither  the  wolf  nor  the 
bear,  the  only  other  large  carnivores  frequenting  the  neighborhood  of  Moundville 
in  the  past,  assumes  the  crouching  position  shown  by  the  effigy.  This  pipe,  shown 
in  two  positions  (Figs.  165.  166),  is  4.2  inches  in  height  and  5.75  inches  from  end  of 
snout  to  tip  of  tail.  Traces  of  carbonized  tobacco  or  of  some  other  herb,  remain 
in  the  bowl. 

Alongside  this  pipe  and  projecting  beyond  it,  was  what  seemed  to  be  a  sharp 
fragment  of  stone.  This  fragment,  when  taken  from  its  position,  proved  to  be  part 
of  the  rim  of  a  large  bowl,  from  which  projected  upward  a  beautifully-carved 
arching  neck  and  head  of  a  crested  duck,  evidently  the  drake  of  the  woodduck.  Part 
of  the  crest  is  missing.  Some  distance  away,  in  the  same  pit,  lying  on  its  side  just 
below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  as  if  it  had  been  removed  at  the  time  the  skeleton, 
with  which  part  of  it  remained,  was  cut  off,  was  the  rest  of  the  bowl  to  which  the 
duck-head  belonged.  On  the  side  of  the  bowl  opposite  the  head  is  the  conventional 
tail  usually  found  on  vessels  of  earthenware  on  which  a  head  is  represented.  The 
vessel,  the  parts  of  which  have  been  reunited,  is  11.5  inches  in  maximum  height. 
The  height  of  the  bowl  proper  is  (i.S  inches;  its  diameter  is  11.75  inches.  The 
thickness  of  the  rim,  which  varies  slightly,  ranges  between  .25  and  .3  of  one  inch. 
On  the  head  and  neck  of  the  duck,  on  the  conventional  tail  and  on  the  body  of  the 
vessel,  is  incised  decoration  executed  with  wonderful  accuracy,  all  things  being  con 
sidered.  This  triumph  of  aboriginal  endeavor,  the  "Portland  vase"  of  prehistoric 
art  in  the  United  States,  is  shown  in  Fig.  167  ;  the  head  of  the  duck  is  represented 
in  three  positions  in  Figs.  168,  169,  170;  the  decoration  on  the  back  of  the  neck 
and  head  is  shown  in  diagram  in  Fig.  171. 

The  missing  part  of  the  crest  of  the  duck  was  vainly  sought  by  five  men,  who, 
for  several  hours,  passed  between  their  fingers  all  material  that  had  been  thrown 
from  the  excavation — the  clayey  nature  of  the  soil  unfortunately  precluding  the 
list'  of  sieves.  Presumably  the  blow  that  broke  the  head  from  the  rest  of  the  bowl, 
struck  the  crest  also,  shivering  parts  to  small  fragments. 

When  this  vessel  was  found  we  knew  it  to  be  the  result  of  much  labor,  although 
we  supposed  it  to  be  of  soft  stone — slate  presumably.  Examination,  however,  showed 
the  material  to  be  of  far  greater  hardness  than  characteri/es  slate.  Naturally,  the 
vessel  has  not  been  mutilated  for  exact  determination  of  its  material,  which,  how 
ever,  probably  has  been  arrived  at  with  a  reasonable  degree  of  certainty.  We  have 
referred  to  a  maul  found  in  the  low  mound  from  which  this  vessel  came.  Not  far 
away,  a  member  of  our  part}*  picked  up  a  fragment  of  what  had  been  a  polished 
bowl  of  stone  of  about  the  thickness  of  the  duck-bowl,  and,  as  indicated  by  its  cur 
vature,  probably  of  about  the  same  size.  This  fragment,  a  part  of  the  maul, 
and  the  vessel  found  by  us,  were  submitted  to  Dr.  E.  (ioldsmith,  who,  by  minor 
tests,  decided  that  all  three  were  of  the  same  stone,  and  named  the  group  from  which 
they  came. 

Complete  quantitative  analyses  by  Dr.  H.  F.  Keller,  of  part  of  the  maul  and  of 
a  portion  of  the  fragment  of  the  stone  vessel  showed  them  to  be  practically  of  the 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  239 


FIG.  170. — Stone  vessel.     Duck's  head,  back  view.     (About  full  size.) 


K;.  171. — Stone  vessel.     Decoration  on  head 
and  neck  of  duck.     (About  half  size.) 


kind  of  stone.  The  results  of  these  analyses,  and  two  slides  for  the  microscope, 
one  made  from  each  of  the  same  two  specimens,  were  submitted  to  Prof,  George  P. 
Merrill,  Head  Curator  of  Geology,  United  States  National  Museum,  who  kindly  had 
consented  to  investigate  the  matter.  Professor  Merrill  writes : 

"  I  find  on  examination  that  the  rock  is  so  highly  altered  that  its  original 
mineral  composition  cannot  be  determined  with  any  degree  of  accuracy. 

"  From  examination  of  the  structure,  so  far  as  it  has  been  preserved  during  the 


240 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 


process  of  alteration,  ami  a  consideration  of  the  chemical  composition,  as  given  in 
your  analyses,  I  am  inclined  to  regard  the  stone  as  a  diorite.  This,  however,  must 
be  accepted  with  a  certain  amount  of  allowance,  for  the  reasons  before  stated." 

With  a  reasonable  degree  of  certainty,  then,  we  can  pronounce  the  vessel  from 
the  low  mound  north  of  Mound  R  to  be  of  diorite,  a  rock  so  hard  that  the  making 
of  the  bowl  by  aboriginal  methods  must  have  been  a  task  indeed. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  James  A.  Anderson,  whose  kindness  we  have  ac 
knowledged  before  in  this  report,  for  a  geological  map  of  Alabama,  made  by  Prof. 
E.  A.  Smith,  State  Geologist.  It  is  seen  by  this  map  that  the  middle  eastern  part 
of  the  State  is,  geologically,  of  igneous  and  metamorphic  rocks,  so  that  the  vessel 
or  the  material  to  make  it,  as  the  case  may  be,  had,  of  necessity,  no  great  distance 
to  come. 

FIELD  WEST  OF  MOUXD  R. 

Immediately  west  of  Mound  R  is  a  cultivated  field  having  considerable  slope 
in  places.  A  tree  of  recent  growth  in  this  field  has  some  of  its  roots  about  a  foot 
above  the  present  surrounding  level,  thus  showing  what  destruction  to  cemeteries 
prolonged  cultivation  must  have  wrought  at  Moundville. 

Considerable  digging  was  done  in  this  field,  and  several  burials  were  met  with 
in  addition  to  a  number  of  disturbed  bones. 

A  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  back,  lying  just  below  the  surface,  had,  at  the 


Flo.  172.— Vessel  No.  1.     Field  west  of  Mound  K. 
(Diameter  5  incites.) 


FIG.  173.— Vessel  No.  2.      Field  west  of  Mound  li. 
(Diameter  3.75  inches.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  241 

knees,  a  smoking-pipe  of  coarse  ware  and  fragments  of  a  rude  pot  with  an  arrow 
head  of  jasper  nearby.  Under  the  legs  were  several  small  fragments  of  sheet- 
copper.  At  the  feet  were  103  pebbles  and  parts  of  pebbles,  all  or  nearly  all  of 
jasper.  With  these  were  six  small  arrowheads  of  jasper,  more  or  less  rudely  made, 
and  one  drill  of  the  same  material.  At  the  left  knee  was  Vessel  No.  I.  a  rude 
water-bottle  of  coarse,  yellow  ware,  with  three  large,  hollow  feet  (Fig.  172).  Part 
of  the  body  of  this  vessel,  which  had  been  carried  away  by  the  plough,  has  been 
restored.  At  the  skull  was  Vessel  No.  2  (Fig.  173),  which,  by  an  unfortunate  blow 
from  a  plough,  has  lost  its  upper  part.  The  decoration  is  a  repetition  of  the  open 
hand  with  the  open  eye  upon  it. 

A  handsome  piercing  implement  of  bone,  (>  inches  long,  highly  polished,  with 
three  notches  at  each  of  two  sides  of  the  blunt  end,  lay  apart  from  human  remains. 

A  full-length  skeleton,  on  the  back,  had  at  the  neck  a  quantity  of  beads  made 
from  portions  cut  from  thick  parts  of  mussel-shells,  where  the  muscular  attachment 
is.  These  nacreous  beads  must  have  presented  an  attractive  appearance  in  their 
time. 

A  skeleton,  also  at  full  length,  whose  interment  had  cut  through- another 
skeleton,  had  shell  beads  at  the  wrist, 

A  small,  thin  disc  of  limonite,  with  many  scratches  on  each  side,  and  a  small 
stone  chisel  with  double  cutting  edge,  lay  apart  from  human  remains. 

MOUND  S. 

Mound  S,  a  small  remnant  of  what  once  was  an  inconsiderable  mound  within 
the  line  of  encircling  mounds,  was  dug  into  by  us  with  no  material  result. 

MOUXD  T. 

Mound  T,  apparently  another  small  remnant  within  the  circle,  was  thoroughly 
dug  into  by  us  with  no  result  except  the  discovery  of  part  of  a  disturbed  skeleton 
just  under  the  surface. 

Here  ends  the  account  in  detail  of  our  digging  at  Moundville.  Let  us  now 
consider  the  question  of  domiciliary  mounds.  In  much  of  our  work  at  Moundville, 
and  all  along  the  Black  Warrior  river,  lor  that  matter,  we  have  assumed  that  large 
mounds  with  flat  summit  plateaus  were  built  by  the  aborigines  for  purposes  other 
than  that  of  sepulture.  Now  let  us  see  on  what  grounds  this  assumption  was  based. 
As  we  have  to  do  with  southern  mounds,  we  need  go  no  farther  for  data  than  our 
own  field  of  exploration  in  the  South. 

The  mound  on  Little  Island.1  South  Carolina,  elliptical  in  outline,  11  feet  to  14 
feet  in  heiirht.  was  about  100  feet  by  150  feet  in  basal  diameter.  The  summit 

•/ 

plateau  was  38  feet  by  01  feet.  An  excavation  in  the  central  part  of  the  mound, 
about  45  feet  by  55  feet,  to  the  base,  was  made  by  us.  One  superficial  burial  was 
met  with,  and  also  the  bones  of  an  infant  under  a  house  of  clay  and  wattle,  which 

'  "Certain  Aboriginal  Mounds  of  the  Coast  of  South  Carolina,"  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  of  Pliila., 
Vol.  XI. 

31  JOURX.  A.  X.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XIII. 


242  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

was  found   on  the  base  of  the  mound.     Evidently  this  mound  was  not  built   for 
burial  purposes. 

On  St.  Helena  Island.  South  Carolina,  is  a  mound,  about  13  feet  in  height, 
known  as  Indian  Hill.  In  shape  it  is  approximately  a  truncated  cone  with  basal 
diameters  of  138  and  129  feet.  The  summit  plateau,  about  circular,  is  G2  feet 
across.  A  trench  18  feet  wide  at  first,  later  contracted  to  15  feet,  was  dug  along  the 
base  to  its  central  part.  Four  distinct  stages  of  occupancy  were  met  with,  but  no 
burials. 

The  Shields  mound.1  near  the  mouth  of  St.  Johns  river,  Florida,  has  a  height 
of  18  feet.  Its  base,  excluding  a  graded  way,  is  about  214  feet  square.  Its  summit 
plateau  is  115  feet  by  loo  feet. 

Excavations  around  the  base  of  this  mound  yielded  burials  that  appeared  to 
have  been  rather  recent,  and  having  no  artifacts  with  them. 

Next  the  entire  eastern  slope  of  the  mound  was  dug  away,  and.  in  addition.  10 
feet  of  the  eastern  end  of  the  body  of  the  mound,  under  the  summit  plateau.  This 
digging,  which  was  done  along  the  base  of  the  mound,  was  extended  inward  27  feet 
in  a  trench  175  feet  broad.  Then  the  trench,  reduced  to  a  breadth  of  115  feet,  was 
carried  in  21  feet  farther.  The  mound  showed  various  periods  of  occupancy  but 
no  burials  were  found  at  a  depth  of  more  than  3  feet  from  the  surface. 

Next,  all  that  remained  of  the  summit  plateau  was  dug  through  at  a  depth  of 
from  G  to  8  feet.  Human  remains,  reduced  almost  to  dust  in  many  cases,  were 
found  in  abundance,  all  within  4  feet  of  the  surface,  with  four  exceptions,  which 
were  6  feet  down.  Here  we  have  a  domiciliary  mound  with  superficial  burials. 

Near  St.  Johns  Landing,2  on  St.  Johns  river,  was  a  mound,  circular  in  outline, 
7.5  feet  in  height.  Its  basal  diameter  was  95  feet;  its  summit  plateau  was  GO  feet 
across.  Twenty-one  men.  working  five  days,  levelled  it  to  the  base.  With  the  ex 
ception  of  two  burials  near  the  surface,  no  human  remains  were  met  with.  Assuredly, 
this  mound  was  not  intended  for  burial  purposes. 

Near  Walton's  Camp,3  Santa  Rosa  county,  Florida,  is  a  mound  about  12  feet  in 
height.  The  basal  diameters  are  178  feet  by  223  feet;  those  of  the  summit  plateau, 
135  feet  by  179  feet.  A  great  amount  of  digging  in  this  mound  showed  it  to  have 
been  used  as  a  place  of  domicile  and  to  have  been  heightened  and  increased  in 
extent  at  different  periods.  Only  superficial  burials  were  found  in  it. 

It  was  on  account  of  the  results  obtained  in  the  foregoing  mounds,  and  in  a 
number  of  others  not  particularly  noted  here,  that  we  assumed  the  mounds  of  Mound- 
ville,  on  account  of  their  size  and  shape,  to  have  been  built  for  a  purpose,  or  for 
purposes,  other  than  those  of  burial,  a  conclusion,  we  think,  borne  out  by  the  result 
of  our  work  in  Mound  C  and  in  Mound  L.  Of  course,  it  is  possible  that  certain  of 
the  mounds  there  were  built  by  stages,  and  that  burials  were  made  from  the 

"Certain  River  Mounds  of  Duval  County,  Florida,"  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila,  Vol.  X. 

•  "Certain  Sand  Mounds  of  the  St.  Johns  River,  Florida,"  Part  II,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat,  Sci.  of 
Phila.,  Vol.  X. 

3  "Certain  Aboriginal  Remains  of  the  Northwest  Florida  Coast,"  Part  I,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci. 
of  Phila,  Vol.  XI. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER.  243 

various  levels  of  occupancy,  as  was  shown  to  have  occurred  in  Mound  C.  But  even 
if  such  were  the  case,  and  to  determine  this  would  he  a  stupendous  work,  the 
character  of  the  mounds  would  remain  the  same. 


MOUND  ix  MOUNUVILLE,  HALE  COUNTY. 

In  the  town  of  Moundville.  in  front  of  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  J.  A.  Elliott,  in 
pine  woods,  is  a  much-spread,  circular  mound  of  sand,  about  o  leet  in  height. 
Thirteen  trial-holes  produced  no  positive  result. 

MOUXD  NKAK  Mc('o\vi\'s  BLUFF,  TUSCALOOSA  COUXTV. 

This  mound,  about  9  feet  in  height,  in  sight  from  the  river,  has  been  oblong, 
but  at  present  its  corners  and  sides  have  been  greatly  rounded  by  cultivation.  We 
were  unable  to  obtain  permission  to  investigate  this  mound  ;  however,  a  small  exca 
vation,  made  bv  us  in  the-  central  part  of  the  plateau,  showed  the  mound,  at  that 
place,  to  be  of  hard  clav  and  verv  unlike  domiciliary  mounds  in  which  burials  have 
been  made. 

Mouxn  XEAK   R.   II.  FOSTER   LAXDING.  TUSCALOOSA  COUXTV. 

At  this  landing  is  a  plantation,  belonging  to  Miss  Florence  H.  Foster,  of  Sylvan, 
Alabama,  on  which  is  a  mound  almost  obliterated  by  cultivation.  That  which  re 
mains  was  <lu<r  into  at  a  number  of  places  by  us.  but  no  siu'ii  of  human  bones  or  of 

O  »/ 

artifacts  was  encountered. 

Parts  of  surrounding  fields  show  traces  of  aboriginal  occupancy.  Though  many 
holes  were  dug  by  us  to  undisturbed  soil,  but  one  burial  pit  was  revealed.  In  this 
grave-pit  were  two  skeletons  at  full  length  lying  on  their  backs,  one  2  feet  below 
the  surface,  the  other  3  feet.  No  artifacts  were  with  them. 

Morxi)  XKAK  .IOXKS'   FKKKY  LAXDIXG.  TUSCALOOSA  COUXTV. 

This  mound,  about  one  mile  in  a  northerly  direction  from  the  landing,  in  a  cul 
tivated  field  not  far  from  the  water,  had  been  largely  ploughed  away.  Fragments 
of  pottery  and  a  human  tooth  lay  on  the  surface.  As  the  field  from  which  the 
mound  rises  is  subject  to  overflow  and  consequent  wash,  no  excavation  was  permitted. 

MOUND  XEAK  HILL'S  Gix  LAXDIXG,  TUSCALOOSA  COUXTY. 

This  mound,  in  a  northerly  direction  from  the  landing,  near  the  river,  on 
property  of  Dr.  T.  M.  Leatherwood,  of  Tuscaloosa.  is  6  feet  8  inches  high.  Its 
length  east  and  west  is  133  feet;  its  breadth  north  and  south  is  100  feet.  Its 
summit  plateau  is  91  feet  by  09  feet  in  corresponding  directions.  Thirteen  trial- 
holes  yielded  neither  human  bone  nor  artifact. 


244  CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  BLACK  WARRIOR  RIVER. 

CEMETERY  BELOW  FOSTER'S  FERRY  LANDBKIDGE,  TUSCALOOSA  COUNTY. 

Reports  are  current  that  human  boues  have  been  found  at  this  place  in  the  cul 
tivation  of  the  fields,  and  that  vessels  of  earthenware  have  been  laid  bare  by 
freshets.  Certain  vessels  in  the  Museum  of  the  University  of  Alabama,  near  Tus- 
caloosa,  are  marked  as  having  come  from  Foster's  Ferry,  but  we  are  informed  by  Mr. 
Anderson,  who  is  greatly  interested  in  archaeology,  that  the  vessels  were  obtained 
long  ago  and  that  data  as  to  the  exact  locality  whence  they  came  arc  wanting.  Con 
siderable  digging  was  done  by  us  at  this  place,  in  spots  pointed  out  by  residents  as 
having  furnished  evidence  in  the  past  of  being  places  of  burial,  but  neither  bones 
nor  artifacts  were  met  with  by  us.  Presumably  former  graves  had  been  ploughed 
through  or  washed  away  by  freshets.  There  is  a  remnant  of  a  mound  on  the  river 
bank. 

CEMETERY  ABOVE  FOSTER'S  FERRY  LANDBRIDGE,  TUSCALOOSA  COUNTY. 

A  short  distance  above  the  landbridge,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  is  a 
plantation  where,  it  is  said,  aboriginal  ware  has  been  found  and  where  our  agent, 
when  locating  mounds,  saw  much  broken  pottery  on  the  surface.  We  were  not  per 
mitted  to  dig  here,  the  owner  fearing  ill  effect  from  loosened  ground  at  the  coming 
of  another  freshet. 

There  are  other  localities  along  the  Black  Warrior  river  below  Tuscaloosa, 
where  the  finding  of  aboriginal  earthenware  has  been  reported,  but  permission  to 
dig  was  not  forthcoming,  the  owners  fearing  injury  to  the  property  in  flood-time. 

The  reader  will  note  that  along  the  Black  Warrior  river,  between  its  junction 
with  the  Tombigbee,  and  Tuscaloosa,  no  burial  mound  was  met  with  bv  us.  All 
aboriginal  interments  were  in  graves.  The  occasional  use  of  the  summit  plateau  of 
a  domiciliary  mound  as  a  cemetery  by  the  aborigines,  forms  no  exception  to  this 
rule. 


rtiLerfsL'dq-3i  mounds 


dqe  L'Uq -f  Oio5bmourtds 


Uj 


Lag 


Malone's  Gin 


so^ 


Peavg's  Ldq. 


O 


•2- 


Bolans VVoodyard  < 
Gaine^'L'dgo 


^Carney'sBlujf 

naijne's  Wocdy  j  rd 


Three  Rivers  Lag 


MAPOFTOMBICBEERIVERTOREM8ERTS 

LANDING 

Redaced  fr^m  Government  Survey 
Scale  in  miles 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS  OF  THE  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER. 

Bv  CLAKENCK  B.  MOOKE. 

As  the  reader  is  aware,  the  Tombigbee  and  Alabama  rivers  unite  to  form  the 
Mobile  river  about  forty-five  miles,  by  water,  above  the  city  of  Mobile.  Alabama. 

The  Mobile  river  and  the  Alabama  were  investigated  by  us  during  the  season 
of  1899.1 

During  the  summer  of  1900,  Mr.  J.  8.  Raybon,  captain  of  the  steamer  from 
which  our  mound  work  is  done,  started  with  a  companion  at  Columbus,  Miss.,  the 
present  head  of  navigation,  and  continued  down  the  little  Tombigbee  river,  as  the 
upper  part  of  the  Tombigbee  before  its  union  with  the  Black  Warrior,  near  De- 
mopolis,  is  sometimes  called,  and  down  the  Tombigbee  river  to  its  junction  with  the 
Alabama.  In  this  way  were  located  a  great  number  of  mounds,  the  owners  of  which 
almost  unanimously  accorded  us  permission  to  dig. 

Part  of  the  winter  of  11)01  was  devoted  by  us  to  a  careful  examination  of 
the  Little  Tombigbee  river  between  Columbus,  Miss.,  and  Demopolis,  Ala..  149 
miles  by  water.  In  addition,  the  upper  29  miles  of  the  Tombigbee  river,  from  De 
mopolis  to  Bickley's  .Landing,  were  investigated.2  This  left  unexplored  by  us  156 
miles  by  water  between  Bickley's  Landing  and  the  junction  of  the  Tombigbee  Avith 
the  Alabama.  It  is  with  these  150  miles  that  this  account  of  part  of  our  work  of 
the  season  of  1905  has  to  do.  Instead  of  going  downstream,  however,  as  we  did 
in  1901,  this  season  we  went  up  the  Tombigbee  to  the  place  where  our  work  had 
ended  before. 

The  warm  thanks  of  the  Academy  are  tendered  all  owners  of  mounds  and  camp 
sites  on  the  Tombigbee  river,  who  so  courteously  placed  their  property  at  its  disposal. 

MOUNDS  AXD  CAMP  SITES  INVESTIGATED. 

Mound  near  the  Cut-off,  Clarke  County. 

Mound  at  Hooks'  Plantation,  Clarke  County. 

Mounds  at  Three  Rivers  Landing,  Washington  County  (4). 

Mound  at  Payne's  Woody  ard,  Clarke  County. 

Mound  near  Carney's  Bluff,  Clarke  County  (2). 

Mound  near  Games'  Landing,  Washington  County. 

Mound  near  Bolan's  Woody  ard,  Washington  County. 

1  "  Certain  Aboriginal  Remains  of  the  Alabama  River,"  Journ.  A  cad.  Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila.,  Vol.  XI. 
"  "  Certain  Aboriginal  Remains  of  the  Tombigbee  River,"  Journ.  Acacl.  Nat.  Sci.  of  I'hila.,Vol.  XL 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBKiBEE  RIVER.        '247 

Mounds  near  .lackson.  Clarke  County  (2). 

Mounds  at  Jackson  Landing,  Clarke  County  (2). 

Mound  in  Kimbell's  Field,  Clarke  County. 

Mound  opposite  Peavey's  Land  ing,  Washington  County. 

Mound  near  Santa  Bogue  creek,  Washington  County. 

Mound  near  Malone's  (Jin.  Clarke  County. 

Mound  near  Bass'  Landing,  Choctaw  Count v. 

Mound  at  Cox's  Landing,  Clarke  County. 

Dwelling  Site  at  Thornton's  Upper  Landing,  Clarke  County. 

Mound  near  Powe's  Landing,  Choctaw  County. 

Mound  near  Noble's  (Jin,  Clarke  County. 

Mound  below  Bashi  creek,  Clarke  County. 

Mound  near  Bashi  creek.  Clarke  County. 

Mound  on  the  Walters'  Plantation.  Marengo  County. 

Mound  below  Horse  creek.  Marengo  Countv. 

Mounds  below  Beaver  creek.  Marengo  County  (4). 

Mounds  near  mouth  of  Beaver  creek.  Marengo  County  (14). 

Mounds  near  Breckenridge  Landing.  Marengo  County  (40  to  50). 

Mounds  near  Steiner's  Landing.  Choctaw  County  (3). 

Mounds  near  Rembert's  Landing,  Marengo  County  (31). 

Morxi)  XKAI;  THE  CIT-OFF,  CLAHKE  COUNTY. 

The  Cut-off  is  a  narrow  water-way  between  the  Alabama  and  Tombigbee  rivers, 

eight  miles  by  water  above  their  junction.  The  mound,  on  property  belonging  to 
Mr.  ('.  (!.  Foote.  of  Calvert,  Alabama,  is  in  thick  swamp,  about  100  yards  from  the 
southern  side  of  the  Cut-oil',  and  approximately  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the 
Tombigbee  river.  The  mound  is  composed  of  a  mixture  of  clay,  sand,  and  loam. 
Its  height  is  5  feet  4  inches;  its  basal  diameter,  02  feet.  As  it  was  not  deemed 
advisable  to  destroy  this  mound,  owing  to  its  use  as  a  place  of  refuge  by  cattle  in 
times  of  high  water,  thirteen  excavations,  each  about  3  feet  square,  were  made  in 
it  to  the  base. 

In  one  excavation  was  a  small  bunched  burial  consisting  of  a  skull  with  its 
lower  jaw.  one  clavicle,  one  bit  of  pelvis,  one  scapula,  three  cervical  vertebra1,  and 
several  foot-bones. 

Nine  inches  from  the  surface  was  a  small  layer  of  fragments  of  calcined,  human 
bones,  including  parts  of  a  skull.  Directly  beneath  this  layer  was  a  pile  of  unburnt 
bones,  with  two  crania,  accompanying  which  was  a  hone  of  ferruginous  sandstone. 
Dissociated  in  this  mound  were  a  few  pot-sherds,  one  shell-tempered,  several  without 
shell-tempering.  Certain  sherds,  of  excellent  ware,  bore  incised  decoration. 

Morxi>  ON  HOOKS'  PLANTATION,  CI.AKKK  COUNTY. 

Hooks'  plantation,  the  property  of  Mr.  A.  F.  Hooks,  of  Mclntosh  Bluff.  Ala., 
is  about  two  miles  above  Mclntosh  Landing,  but  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river. 


248       CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER. 

The  mound,  which  resembles  a  natural  ridge  and  probably  was  an  elevation  made 
by  wasli  of  water  in  flood-time,  to  which,  perhaps,  an  amount  of  sandy  clay  had 
been  added  at  one  end  by  the  aborigines,  is  in  the  swamp  about  one  hundred  yards 
in  a  southeasterly  direction  from  the  landing.  No  measurements  Avere  taken,  as  we 
found  it  impossible  to  distinguish  between  the  artificial  and  the  natural,  but  2  feet 
closely  approximates  the  maximum  height.  As  this  mound  serves  as  a  refuge  for 
cattle  during  high  water,  it  was  not  completely  leveled,  though  a  large  part  of  it 
was  dug  through. 

Fourteen  inches  down  was  a  skull  in  fragments,  like  all  others  found  in  the 
mound.  Near  it  were  two  bits  of  bone. 

Beginning  one  foot  from  the  surface  was  a  layer  of  bones,  of  irregular  outline, 
20  inches  by  30  inches  in  maximum  diameters,  including  four  skulls,  one  belonging 
to  a  child.  The  average  thickness  of  this  layer  was  somewhat  less  than  that  of  the 
skulls  it  contained. 

Near  the  deposit  just  described  was  a  bunched  burial,  including  one  skull. 

Fragments  of  a  long-bone  lay  about  8  inches  below  the  surface. 

Six  inches  down  was  the  lower  part  of  a  bowl  of  inferior  ware,  in  fragments, 
resting  on  its  base.  This  remaining  part  had  a  depth  of  eight  inches.  On  the 
bottom  lay  an  astragalus  of  an  adult.  Above  this  bone  Avas  a  pile  of  fragments  rep 
resenting  part  of  another  vessel.  Presumably  the  ground  had  been  under  cultivation 
in  former  times,  and  all  these  fragments  were  remains  of  an  enclosing  bowl  and  its 
surmounting,  inverted  vessel.  In  all  probability  most  of  the  bones  included  in  this 
urn-burial  had  been  carried  away  by  the  plough  which  broke  the  vessels. 

In  another  part  of  the  mound  Avas  the  base  of  a  large  boAvl,  probably  all  that 
remained  of  an  urn-burial. 

Ten  inches  from  the  surface  Avas  a  flat  mass  of  hematite,  about  the  size  of  a 
fist,  in  a  small  pocket  of  charcoal.  SeA'eral  nails  and  one  spike  of  iron  lay  together 
apart  from  the  interments. 

With  the  smaller  bunched  burial,  to  Avhich  reference  has  been  made,  Avere  glass 
beads.  With  the  larger  burials  Avere  glass  beads ;  four  beads  of  sheet-copper  or 
sheet-brass,  corroded  through  and  through ;  an  object  of  glass  resembling  the  stem 
of  a  Avine-glass  Avith  the  base  broken  away ;  and  four  Romanist  medals  of  saints, 
certain  of  which  had  been  AV rapped  in  matting,  parts  of  Avhich  remained.  Three 
of  these  medals  had  "eyes,"  or  small,  circular  attachments  for  suspension.  The 
'•eye"  belonging  to  the  fourth  medal,  broken  off,  had  been  substituted  by  a  small 
hole.  The  unappreciative  savage,  howeAyer,  had  placed  this  hole  at  the  lower  side 
of  the  medal,  so  that  the  saints  hung  upside  doAvn  when  the  medal  Avas  suspended. 

MOUNDS  NEAR  THREE  RIVERS  LANDING,  WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 

These  mounds,  four  in  number,  in  sight  one  of  another,  on  property  of  Mr. 
James  B.  Slade,  of  Slade's,  Alabama,  are  about  two  hundred  yards  in  a  SSW. 
direction  from  the  landing.  It  is  said  positively  that  these  mounds,  in  common  Avith 
the  surrounding  territory,  have  been  under  cultivation  in  the  past,  a  report  borne 
out  by  their  extended  appearance. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER.        249 

The  northernmost  mound,  of  clear,  yellow  .sand,  yielded  no  return  save  half  a 
''banner-stone"  wrought  from  a  clayey  material.  Two  holes  show  where  the  parts 
of  tin-  ornament  had  been  lashed  together  with  the  aid  of  similar  perforations  in  the 
missing  half. 

The  second  mound.  18  inches  high  and  35  feet  in  basal  diameter,  seemed  to 
have  been  built  for  domiciliary  purposes.  It  was  composed  of  sandy  loam,  almost 
black,  having  a  sprinkling  of  shells,  mostly  broken,  one  kind  being  a  fresh-water 
mussel  (Quadrula  trapesoides).  Certain  of  the  shells  are  calcined.  The  dark  sand, 
discolored  by  admixture  of  organic  matter,  was  found  to  a  depth  of  30  inches,  or 
one  foot  more  than  the  height  of  the  mound.  This  does  tiot  imply,  however,  that 
work  had  been  done  by  the  aborigines  below  the  original  surface  of  the  ground,  but 
rather  that  sand  and  leaf-mould  had  gathered  on  the  general  level  around  the  mound 
after  its  completion,  thus  lessening  its  height.  This  domiciliary  mound,  with  its 
blackened  earth,  shells,  deer-bones,  and  other  debris,  had  in  one  part  a  local  layer 
of  clear,  yellow  sand,  which  had  been  cut  through,  here  and  there,  for  burials  placed 
below  it.  The  mound,  then,  had  been  used  as  a  burial  mound  after  its  completion 
or  during  the  last  stage  of  its  occupancy.  The  mound  was  completely  leveled  by  us. 

Apart  from  human  remains,  were:  hammer-stones;  pebble-hammers;  pebbles, 
whole  and  broken;  hones  of  ferruginous  sandstone;  several  tines  of  staghorn  :  a 
canine  tooth  of  a  large  carnivore;  part  of  a  bone  needle  with  an  eye;  a  number  of 
broken  arrowheads  or  knives;  eight  lanceheads,  arrowheads,  and  knives,  three  of 
chert,  five  of  quart/Jte.  some  variegated  ;  various  fragments  of  earthenware,  some 
shell-tempered,  others  not,  none  showing  any  novelty  in  design. 

Two  feet  nine  inches  down,  apart  from  human  remains,  was  an  interesting  de 
posit  of  eight  leaf-shaped  implements  of  quart/.ite.  each  about  2.5  inches  and  4.5 
inches  in  maximum  diameters,  neatly  piled  one  upon  another. 

While  the  burials  in  this  mound  were  not  marginal,  neither  were  they  entirely 
central,  though  all  may  be  said  to  have  been  in  the  body  of  the  mound.  The  con 
dition  of  the  bones,  while  far  from  good,  was  better  than  is  the  case  in  many  mounds, 
owing,  perhaps,  to  infiltration  of  lime  salts  from  the  shells.  Two  skulls  with  their 
mandibles  were  saved  in  fair  condition.  Each  shows  marks  of  cranial  compression 
on  the  frontal  part,  as  did  each  skull  in  this  mound,  not  too  badly  crushed  to  allow 
determination.  One  of  the  two  skulls,  that  of  an  adolescent,  showed,  in  addition 
to  the  effect  of  frontal  compression,  a  longitudinal  groove  along  the  middle  line  of 
the  skull.  The  two  crania,  the  only  ones  found  by  us  in  a  condition  to  preserve 
during  our  entire  season's  work,  were  sent  by  us  to  the  United  States  National 
Museum  at  Washington. 

Eighteen  inches  from  the  surface,  below  a  space  cut  through  the  local  layer  of 
sand,  of  which  mention  has  been  made,  was  a  bunched  burial  consisting  of  bones  of 
an  adult  and  of  a  child. 

Fifteen  inches  below  the  surface  lay  a  bunched  burial  with  one  cranium,  and. 
at  about  the  same  depth,  some  distance  away,  was  a  bunch  of  bones  with  two  crania. 
With  the  latter  burial  were  a  number  of  glass  beads. 

•3-2  JOUEX.   A.   X.  S.  PHILA..   VOL.   XIII. 


250        CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER. 

A  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  back  lay  1  foot  10  inches  from  the  surface. 
The  cranium  was  one  of  the  two  to  which  reference  has  been  made. 

In  a  grave  3  feet  5  inches  deep,  made  by  cutting  through  the  local  layer  of 
yellow  sand,  and  extending  below  the  base  of  the  mound,  lay  a  skeleton  at  full  length 
on  the  back,  in  anatomical  order  up  to  the  upper  dorsal  region.  The  uppermost 
dorsal,  and  the  cervical,  vertebra?  were  in  disorder.  Just  beyond  them  were  the 
right  clavicle  and  the  manubrium.  The  skull,  the  left  clavicle,  both  scapulas,  and 
both  humeri  were  missing.  The  radii  and  ulna3  and  all  the  finger  bones  were  in 
place,  as  were  most  of  the  ribs.  The  head  and  neck  of  the  light  femur  and  the  cor 
responding  acetabulum,  which  showed  a  pathological  condition,  have  been  sent  by 
us  to  the  Army  Medical  Museum  at  Washington. 

Two  feet  six  inches  from  the  surface  was  a  skeleton  at  full  length  on  the  back, 
having  all  bones  present  except  the  calvarium.  The  atlas  was  turned  over  back 
ward,  as  if  disturbed  by  the  removal  of  part  of  the  skull. 

The  skeleton  of  a  child,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  lay  2  feet  2  inches  from  the 
surface. 

The  skeletons  of  two  children,  side  by  side,  each  flexed  on  the  left  side,  lay  2 
feet  3  inches  down. 

In  a  grave  which  had  been  cut  through  the  local  layer  of  yellow  sand,  20  inches 
from  the  surface,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  child,  partly  flexed  on  the  left  side. 

About  the  same  depth  in  another  part  of  the  mound  was  the  complete  skeleton 
of  an  adult,  lying  at  full  length  on  the  back. 

A  skeleton,  also  at  full  length  on  the  back,  had  a  skull  showing  marked  frontal 
flattening,  one  of  the  two  sent  to  the  Army  Medical  Museum. 

There  were  also  in  this  mound  :  a  bunched  burial  with  one  skull ;  a  lone  cal 
varium  ;  part  of  a  skeleton  without  a  cranium,  parts  in  order,  others  not ;  the 
skeleton  of  an  adolescent,  in  order  to  the  lumbar  region  but  disarranged  above. 

But  a  few  inches  below  the  surface  was  the  body  of  a  large  bowl,  of  coarse, 
shell-tempered  ware,  with  rough,  incised  and  punctate  decoration.  In  this  large 
fragment,  from  which  the  rim  was  entirely  missing,  were  ten  human  vertebra',  a 
sternum,  one  clavicle,  one  scapula,  and  certain  ribs.  Obviously  the  upper  part  of 
this  bowl  had  been  wrecked  by  contact  with  a  plough,  and  possibly,  at  the  same 
time,  an  inverted  bowl,  serving  as  a  cover,  and  perhaps  some  of  the  bones,  may  have 
been  carried  away.  We  have  found  numerous  urn-burials  in  this  condition  in 
Georgia  and  along  the  Alabama  river. 

Thirty  inches  from  the  surface  lay  a  skeleton  at  full  length  011  the  back.  The 
left  arm  was  parallel  with  the  body  ;  the  right  forearm  was  flexed  upward,  the  hand 
resting  on  the  shoulder.  The  skull  lay  on  its  vertex,  the  face  turned  from  the  rest 
of  the  skeleton.  Three  cervical  vertebra;  lay  beside  the  skull;  the  mandible  and 
one  clavicle  lay  a  little  beyond  it.  Presumably  in  removing  the  skeleton  from  the 
dead-house  after  the  flesh  had  decayed,  the  skeleton  being  held  together  by  ligaments, 
the  skull  and  certain  neighboring  parts  had  become  detached  and  had  been  care 
lessly  replaced.  Near  the  neck  were  many  glass  beads  and  two  barrel-shaped  ones 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER.       251 

of  shell.  By  the-  skull  were  t\v<>  neatly-made  shell  hair-pins,  more  pointed  than  is 
usually  the  case.  Inverted  on  the  base  of  the  skull,  covering  but  part  of  it.  like  a 
eap,  as  shown  in  Fig.  1.  was  an  imperforate  bowl  of  common  .shell-tempered  ware, 
undecorated  save  for  lour  small,  equidistant  projections  at  the  rim.  The  measure 
ments1  of  this  bowl  are  :  maximum  diameter,  G.5  inches;  diameter  of  opening,  5.5 
inches;  height,  4  inches. 

In  a  recent  paper2  mention  was  made  of  what  might  be  called  a  form  of  urn- 
burial  that  had  been  noted  in  New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  where  the  skull,  lying  with 
its  skeleton,  was  covered  by  an  inverted  bowl.  In  the  early  part  of  the  present 


FIG.  1. — Burial.     Mound  near  Three  Rivers  Landing. 

season  (1905)  we  found  in  a  mound  to  the  north  of  Mobile  bay,  Alabama,  just  such 
a  burial,  the  skull  being  entirely  covered  by  a  curiously  decorated  bowl.  Unfor 
tunately  we  found  no  repetition  of  this  form  of  burial  either  on  Mobile  bay  or  on 
Mississippi  sound,  as  may  be  noted  in  the  report  which  follows  this  one.  This  dis 
covery,  on  the  Tombigbee  river,  of  a  bowl  inverted  on  a  skull,  though  not  covering 
it,  may  be  regarded  as  additional  evidence  that  the  custom  of  placing  bowls  over 
skulls3  with  their  skeletons,  occasionally  was  practised  farther  east  than  has  hitherto 
been  reported. 

The  third  mound  in  order,  on  the  edge  of  the  bluff,  originally  circular  in  out 
line,  had  a  small  part  washed  awav.      Its  height  was  2  feet  2  inches;  the  basal 

1  All  measurements  of  earthenware  in  this  report  are  approximate  only. 

2  "Aboriginal  Urn-burial  in  the  United  States,"  by  Clarence  B.  Moore,  American  Anthropolo 
gist,  Oot.-Dec.,  1904. 

3  The  reader  will  not  confuse  this  custom  with  a  well-known  form  of  urn-burial  practised  along 
the  northwestern  Florida  coast,  where  inverted  bowls  were  placed  over  isolated  skulls  or  skulls  accom 
panied  by  a  few  bones  only. 


252        CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBK1BEE  RIVER. 

diameter.  50  feet.  More  than  three-quarters  of  the  original  area  of  the  mound  were 
dug  away  by  us,  little  being  left  but  portions  around  two  large  trees.  The  material 
was  sand  with  admixture  of  loam.  Signs  of  former  use  as  a  place  of  abode  were 
wanting. 

Apart  from  human  remains,  together,  were  sixteen  pebbles  or  parts  of  pebbles, 
a  hone,  and  near  these  a  lump  of  hematite.  Elsewhere  in  the  mound,  away  from 
burials,  were:  a  circular  stone,  about  4  inches  in  diameter,  pitted  on  each  side;  a 
mass  of  ferruginous  sandstone,  which  probably  had  been  used  as  a  hammer;  four 
arrowheads  or  knives,  some  of  chert,  some  of  quart/.ite ;  a  sharp  flake  of  chert ; 
several  pebbles ;  a  few  bits  of  earthenware. 

Human  remains  in  this  mound  were  badly  decayed.  There  were  present  in  the 
mound  what  was  left  of  twenty-two  crania,  exclusive  of  those  of  children.  Three 
of  these  showed  frontal  compression  and  six  did  not.  Thirteen  skulls  were  too 
badly  decayed  to  allow  determination.  One  of  the  skulls  with  anterior  flattening 
had.  in  addition,  a  longitudinal  groove  of  the  kind  noted  in  the  preceding  mound. 

As  exact  description  of  all  burials  in  this  mound  would  be  wearisome  to  the 
reader,  only  those  of  especial  interest  will  be  noted  in  detail.  There  were  present 
in  the  mound  burials  in  fourteen  places. 


FIG.  2. — Decoration  on  part  of  vessel.     Mound  near  Three  Kivers  Landing.     (About  half  size.) 

Seven  inches  down  was  a  large  pile  of  long-bones  carefully  placed  parallel  one 
to  another.  This  pile,  which  represented  several  individuals,  possibly  five  or  six, 
slanted  upward  somewhat.  Farther  in  the  mound,  in  contact  with  the  pile,  were 
one  skull,  a  pelvis,  vertebra?,  ribs,  and  a  few  other  bones.  On  and  above  the  upper 
part  of  the  mass  of  long-bones  were  many  fragments  of  what  seemingly  had  been 
part  of  a  large  vessel  of  ware  shell-tempered  in  places  as  if  the  powdered  shell  had 
been  unevenly  distributed.  But  little  of  the  rim  remained.  The  decoration,  in 
cised,  probably  consisted  of  a  repetition  of  two  symbols,  one  being  a  paw  or  perhaps 
an  open  hand  (Fig.  2),  and  the  other  a  leg. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBKIBEE  RIVER.       253 

Thirteen  inches  from  the  surface  was  another  bundle  of  parallel  long-bones, 
consisting  of  seven  huineri,  six  radii,  six  ulna',  seven  femurs,  seven  tibia1,  ar.d  lour 
fibula-.  At  one  end  of  this  pile  were  the  bones  of  an  infant. 

With  its  rim  8  inches  below  the  surface,  resting  on  its  base,  in  which  there  is 
a  mortuary  perforation,  was  a  bowl  of  inferior,  shell-tempered  ware,  without  decora 
tion,  except  certain  projections  from  the  rim.  The  maximum  diameter  of  the  vessel 
is  12.5  inches;  its  height.  8.5  inches.  In  the  sand  which  filled  this  vessel  was  part 
of  the  skull  of  a  young  infant.  Here  we  have  an  urn-burial  without  a  covering 
vessel,  for,  presumably,  had  a  plough  struck  an  upper  vessel,  the  rim  of  the  one 
below  would  not  have  escaped  injury.  Immediately  under  this  urn-burial  was  a 
bunched  burial  consisting  of  bones  belonging  to  two  adults.  Probably  the  apposi 
tion  was  accidental. 


The  fourth  and  southernmost  mound  was  the  smallest  of  all.  Eight  holes, 
carried  below  the  base,  showed  it  to  be  of  yellow  sand.  The  onlv  object  found  was 
part  of  a  human  skull. 

MOUND  NKAK  PAYNK'S  WOODVAKD,  CI.AKKK  COUNTY. 

This  little  mound,  circular  in  basal  outline,  about  200  yards  WNW.  from  the 
landing,  on  property  of  Mr.  Jefferson  Bush,  living  nearby,  had  a  height  of  4  feet, 
and  a  diameter  of  40  feet.  It  was  completely  dug  down  by  us  with  the  exception 
of  parts  around  two  trees.  The  composition  of  this  mound  was  interesting,  it  being 
one  of  the  class  found  in  this  region  and  spoken  of  as  "reek-mounds"  by  the  in 
habitants.  It  was  composed  of  sand  with  a  small  admixture  of  clay,  and  contained 
a  great  number  of  masses  of  ferruginous  sandstone  placed  together  in  various  parts. 
These  masses  were  often  of  irregular  shape,  but  sometimes  were  triangular,  oblong, 
or  roughly  circular,  some  no  lamer  than  the  head  of  a  child,  others  possibly  seventv- 

o       ^  ./  . 

five  pounds  in  weight. 


FIG.  3. —  Vessel  of  earthenware.     Mound  near  Payne's 
Wuodvard.     (Diameter  3.'J5  inches.) 


Flo.  4. — Vessel  of  earthenware.     Mound  mar  Payne's  Wood  yard. 
(Diameter  0.5  inches.) 


254        CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER. 


Apart  from  human  remains,  in  various  parts  of  the  mound,  were  certain  pebbles 
of  a  shape  well  suited  for  pebble-hammers,  but  showing  no  mark  of  use.  As  pebbles 
of  similar  form  lay  along  the  river  bank,  those  in  the  mound  may  have  been  acci 
dentally  introduced. 

Singly  and  apart  from  human  remains  was  an  imperforate  bowl  with  rude  line 
and  punctate  decoration  (Fig.  3).  Also  away  from  burials  was  a  bowl  of  perhaps 
two  quarts  capacity,  of  fairly  good  ware  and  highly  polished  (Fig.  4).  The  rim 
shows  a  certain  thickening.  On  it  and  just  below  it  are  encircling  lines  of  a  deco 
ration  which  at  first  glance  one  might  think  were  made  by  a  roulette,  or  notched 
wheel,  of  a  kind  figured  and  described  by  Holmes;1  but  on  examination  it  may  be 
seen  that  these  punctate  markings  are  at  irregular  distances  apart.  It  becomes 
apparent,  then,  that  as  a  pointed  implement  was  trailed  around  the  vessel,  the 
impress  of  the  point  was  made  upon  the  clay.  Around  the  body  of  the  vessel, 
which  has  a  mortuary  perforation  of  the  base,  is  a  single,  incised  line. 

There  were  also  in  this  mound  single  fragments  of  vessels  and  parts  of  vessels 

in  fragments,  some  undecorated,  one 
with  the  interesting,  incised  decora 
tion  shown  in  Fig.  5. 

One  vessel,  of  which  but  com 
paratively  small  fragments  were 
found,  had  been  decorated  in  red 
pigment  on  the  outside,  or  on  part 
of  the  outside,  and  red  pigment  with 
incised  decoration  interiorly.  All 
the  earthenware  found  by  us  in  this 
^^^f  mound  came  from  the  eastern  part 
— some  near  the  margin,  some  far 
ther  in. 

A  small,  rude  cutting  implement 
of  chert  la}'  in  the  sand. 

Toward  the  center  of  the 
mound  the  grouping  of  masses  of 
rock  was  more  marked.  Among 
these  was  the  first  burial  found  by 

us,  consisting  of  three  fragments  of  a  femur  and  part  of  an  ulna,  30  inches  from 
the  surface. 

Almost  exactly  in  a  central  position  in  the  mound,  3.5  feet  down,  was  the 
skeleton  of  an  adult,  partly  flexed  on  the  right  side,  with  the  skull  badly  crushed. 
It  seemed  as  if  a  special  arrangement  had  been  accorded  the  masses  of  rock  between 
which  this  skeleton  lay,  as  large,  flat  slabs  were  above  it,  as  well  as  below  the  head 
and  chest. 


FIG.  5. — Fragment  of  earthenware  vessel.     Mound  near  Payne's 
Woodyard.     (Height  4.4  inches.) 


"Aboriginal  Pottery  of  Eastern  United  States,"  20th  An.  Rep.  Bur.  Am.  Eth.,  p.  77. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER.       255 

MOUNDS  XEAH  CARNEY'S  BI.UKK,  CLARKP;  COUNTY. 

At  the  edge  of  the  bluff  overlooking  the  river,  about  one-half  mile  north  from 
the  landing,  in  full  view  from  the  road,  was  a  symmetrical  mound,  circular  in  basal 
outline,  on  property  belonging  to  Mr.  P.  A.  Bryant,  living  nearby.  Its  height  was 
5.5  feet;  its  basal  diameter,  4G  feet.  It  had  been  dug  into  on  the  northern  side  to 
some  extent,  previous  to  our  visit. 

The  mound,  which  was  completely  leveled  by  us,  proved  to  be  of  sand  mingled 
with  masses  of  rock,  similar  to  the  one  at  Payne's  Woodyard. 


FIG.  6.— Vessel  No.  1.     Larger  mound  near  Carney's  Bluft'.     ( Diameter  6.75  inches.) 

In  the  sand  were  a  number  of  pebbles ;  several  arrowheads  or  knives,  of 
quartzite,  broken  and  whole;  several  bits  of  chert;  a  pebble  showing  considerable 
wear;  and  part  of  a  flat,  oval  pebble  with  a  central  hole  of  considerable  size,  which 
may  have  been  natural,  though  a  roughness  of  the  margin  of  the  hole  seemed  to 
indicate  that  if  not  artificially  made  it  had  at  least  been  enlarged.  Several  bits  of 
earthenware  bearing  the  small  check-stamp  lay  in  the  sand. 

Eight  feet  in  from  the  margin  of  the  mound,  on  the  eastern  side,  28  inches 
down,  were  a  number  of  fragments,  presumably  of  several  vessels  or  of  parts  of 
vessels.  With  these  were  three  vessels  and  a  large  fragment,  as  follows  : 

Vessel  No.  1. — This  vessel,  of  yellow  ware,  trilateral  with  circular  aperture 
ornamented  with  notches,  has  an  incised  decoration  as  shown  in  Fig.  6.  The  mor 
tuary  base-mutilation  is  present. 

Vessel   No.   2. — An  undecorated  pot  of   inferior  ware,   of   about    three    pints 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER. 


capacity,  with  slightly  flaring  rim.  parts  of  which  rise  above  the  rest  at  three 
irregularly  distant  points  (Fig.  7).  There  is  a  basal  perforation. 

Vessel  No.  3. — A  curious  vessel  of  coarse,  yellow  ware,  that  has  had  in  relief, 
the  head.  arms,  and  hands,  of  a  male  figure.  The  right  arm,  now  missing,  with  a 
hand  of  generous  proportions,  which  still  remains,  crossed  the  body,  the  hand  resting 
upon  the  left  arm  (Fig.  8). 

The  fragment  was  the  lower  two-thirds  of  an  undecorated.  globular  vessel,  with 
a  hole  knocked  through  the  base. 

Certain   frairments  found   nearbv  belonged   to  a  coarselv-made  vessel,  partlv 

•  v  »/ 

shown  in  Fig.  9.  The  lower  part  of  another  effigy-vessel,  in  many  bits,  was  present 
in  the  mound. 

Four  feet  nine  inches  down  was  a  lone  skull,  much  broken.  The  frontal  part 
showed  no  flattening.  No  other  skull  present  in  the  mound  was  in  condition  to 
furnish  any  indication  as  to  cranial  compression. 

Two  feet  five  inches  from  the  surface  were  two  femurs,  one  tibia,  one  humerus, 


FIG.  7.  —  Vessel  No.  2.     Larger  mound  near  Carney's  Bluff. 
(Diameter  0  inches.) 


FIG.  9. — Fragment  of  vessel  of  earthenware. 
Larger  mound  near  Carney's  Hluff. 


FIG.  8. — Vessel  No.  :i.     Larger  mound  near  Carney's  Hluff. 
(Diameter  4.5  incites.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER.       257 

one  radius,  one  ulna,  and  certain  crushed  bones  much  decayed,  also  parts  of  a  skull— 
evidently  a  bunched   burial.      Masses  of  rock   lay  at  each   side,  and  a  slab,  on  its 
edge,  was  at  one  end. 

Two  feet  from  the  surface  were  parts  of  a  skull,  badly  decayed,  also  one  femur, 
one  humerus,  one  ulna,  and  one  mandible.  No  rocks  lay  above  this  burial,  but 
masses  were  nearby  on  the  sides  and  below  it. 

Below  the  trench  left  by  the  previous  diggers  were  :  one  lone  skull ;  a  skull  in 
fragments,  with  remains  of  certain  long-bones  nearby;  fragments  of  a  skull  and  of 
a  few  other  bones.  These  burials  were  not  among  masses  of  rock. 

Five  feet  three  inches  from  the  surface  was  a  skull  with  rocks  all  around  it, 
having  no  particular  arrangement. 

Not  far  from  the  base,  and  almost  in  the  center  of  the  mound,  was  a  skeleton 
closelv  flexed  on  the  left  side,  not  immediately  associated  with  masses  of  rock. 

No  basal  line  was  visible  in  this  mound,  and.  therefore,  to  insure  complete  in 
vestigation,  the  digging  was  carried  along  at  a  depth  considerably  greater  than  the 
height  of  the  mound,  reaching  to  a  depth  of  S  feet  at  times.  Almost  immediately 
below  the  central  part  of  the  mound,  its  base  about  1)  feet  from  the  surface,  was 
what  seemed  to  be  a  grave,  though  its  limits  on  the  sides  were  not  distinctly  defined. 
On  the  base  of  this  grave,  with  many  small  fragments  of  charcoal  scattered  in  the 
sand,  was  a  skeleton  partly  flexed  on  the  right  side.  No  masses  of  rock  lay  imme 
diately  above  this  skeleton,  but  4  feet  above  it,  and  continuing  to  the  surface,  was 
a  great  mass  of  slabs  of  ferruginous  sandstone,  closely  piled. 

In  another  part  of  the  mound  was  a  small  layer  of  charcoal  which  did  not  seem 
to  be  associated  with  burials. 

On  the  slope  of  a  bluff  about  one-quarter  mile  north  of  the  mound  just  de 
scribed,  also  on  property  of  Mr.  Bryant,  was  a  mound  5  feet  7  inches  high  and  30 
feet  across  its  circular  base.  There  was  no  sign  of  previous  disturbance.  This 
mound,  which  was  entirely  dug  away  by  us.  proved  to  be  of  sand  with  but  few 
masses  of  rock — practically  none  being  met  with  in  its  outer  half. 

In  the  sand  were  three  arrowheads  or  knives,  found  separately — two  rudely 
made  of  quartzite,  one  more  carefully  fashioned  from  chert. 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  margin  of  the  mound  were  fragments  of  about  half 
of  a  small  undecorated  vessel.  Several  sherds  lay  here  and  there  in  the  sand, 
probably  having  been  introduced  into  the  mound  with  the  material  for  its  building. 

Twenty  inches  down  in  the  outer  part  of  the  mound  was  a  small  bunched 
burial,  including  a  much  decayed  skull,  badly  crushed. 

Farther  in.  4  feet  from  the  surface,  was  a  small  bunched  burial  with  which  no 
fragments  of  skull  were  found. 

Near  the  central  part  of  the  mound  were  two  badly  decayed  skulls  in  close 
proximity.  Near  one  of  these  were  two  round,  flat  pebbles  of  about  equal  size. 

Two  or  three  feet  from  the  center  of  the  mound.  3.5  feet  from  the  surface,  was 
a  I  null  v  decayed  skull. 

38  JOURN.   A.  N.  S.  PHILA..  VOL.  XIII. 


258        CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER. 

Although  the  mound  when  measured  by  us  showed  a  height  of  about  5.5  feet, 
yet,  being  on  a  slope,  it  is  possible  that  a  greater  height  was  accorded  by  us  than  it- 
was  entitled  to.  At  all  events,  what  seemed  to  be  a  base-line  ran  through  the 
mound,  and  this  base-line  was  not  more  than  4  feet  from  the  surface  in  the  higher 
parts  of  the  mound.  A  few  feet  west  of  the  center  of  the  base,  beginning  at  the 
base  and  extending  downward  3  feet,  was  a  pit  of  irregular  outline,  having  an 
average  diameter  of  about  G  feet.  At  the  margin  of  this  pit  were  two  skulls, 
together.  In  the  upper  part  of  the  pit  was  much  clay,  and  below  the  clay  was  black 
material,  probably  sand  darkened  by  admixture  of  organic  matter.  In  this  black 
material  were  scattered  a  few  small  masses  of  ferruginous  sandstone  and  a  part  of 
the  base  of  an  earthenware  vessel,  having  one  foot  and  a  remnant  of  another.  No 
human  remains  were  encountered  below  the  margin  of  this  curious  pit. 

MOUND  NEAR  GAINES'  LANDING,  WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 

About  one-half  mile  by  water  up  West  Bassett  Creek,  on  the  right-hand  side 
going  up  stream,  on  property  belonging  to  Mr.  Henry  L.  Gaines,  of  Mobile,  Alabama, 
is  a  field  lately  used  for  the  raising  of  cotton.  In  this  field,  which  has  been  long 
under  cultivation,  was  a  slight  rising  of  the  ground,  marking  where  a  mound  had 
been  almost  ploughed  away.  On  the  surface  were  scattered  human  bones.  A  cir 
cular  area  30  feet  in  diameter  was  marked  out  by  us  and  dug  away  to  a  depth  of 
about  2.5  feet.  The  material  was  clay  with  a  slight  admixture  of  sand. 

In  several  parts  of  the  mound,  just  below  the  surface,  were  scattered  human 
bones  where  burials  had  been  disturbed  during  cultivation  of  the  field.  Slightly 
deeper  was  a  large  mass  of  long-bones,  parallel  with  one  another.  At  one  end  where 
the  mass  diminished  somewhat  in  thickness,  three  skulls,  in  fragments  when  found 
by  us,  had  been  placed. 

Immediately  below  the  surface  were  the  remains  of  three  urn-burials,  consisting 
of  the  lower  parts  of  coarse,  undecorated,  shell-tempered  bowls,  in  fragments  but 
held  together  by  the  surrounding  clay.  Each  of  these  bowls,  from  which,  pre 
sumably,  the  rims  had  been  ploughed  away,  contained  human  bones,  and  one  had, 
in  addition,  several  large  fragments  of  a  good-si/.ed  vessel  of  excellent  ware,  shell- 
tempered  in  places  and  bearing  incised  decoration,  probably  belonging  to  a  sur 
mounting  vessel. 

A  stone,  pitted  on  each  side,  lay  alone  in  the  clay. 

MOUND    NEAR    BOLAX'S    WOOUYAKI),    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

This  mound,  about  half  a  mile  in  a  westerly  direction  from  the  landing,  is  about 
5  feet  in  height  and  50  feet  in  diameter,  approximately.  We  were  unable  to  obtain 
permission  to  investigate  it. 

MOUNDS  NEAR  JACKSON,  CLARKE  COUNTY. 

About  one-quarter  mile  in  a  straight  line  east  of  the  railroad  station  at  Jackson, 
in  pine  woods,  were  two  mounds,  in  sight  one  from  another.  The  northerly  mound. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER.        259 


which  had  sustained  practically  no  previous  investigation,  was  43  feet  in  diameter 
of  base  and  2  feet  in  height.  Leaving  untouched  the  outer  3.5  feet  on  each  side 
of  the  mound,  the  remainder,  having  a  diameter  of  3G  feet,  was  completely  dug 
through  by  us,  and  as  no  burials  were  met  with  until  we  had  gone  a  number  of  feet 
toward  the  center,  it  is  not  likely  that  anything  was  missed. 

Human  remains  were  found   in  eleven   places,  consisting  of  lone  skulls,  small 
bunches,  and  fragments  of  bone,  all  in  the  last  stage  of  decay. 

Found  singly,  and  apart  from  human  remains,  in  the  mound  were  various  im 
perfect    arrowheads;     also    six    entire    arrowheads    or 
knives — five    of  quartzite,    one    of    chert,    all    rudely 
wrought. 

Presumably  having  been  with  a  skeleton  which 
had  decayed  away  was  an  ornament  of  corrugated 
sheet-copper  (Fig.  10).  This  type  of  ornament  is  more 
fully  described  in  our  account  of  the  shell  deposits  at 
Blakeley,  Mobile  bay. 

With  a  bit  of  long-bone,  having  two  or  three  frag 
ments  of  bone  at  a  certain  distance,  were,  neatly  piled 
together,  fourteen  arrowheads  and  knives — twelve  of 
quartzite,  two  of  chert,  all  unbroken,  with  one  excep 
tion.  Separated  from  these  by  a  short  distance  was  a 
rough  arrowhead  or  knife  of  quartzite,  and  an  incom 
plete  arrowhead  of  chert. 

With  a  lone  skull  were  eight  arrowheads  and 
knives — seven,  entire,  of  quartzite,  one,  incomplete,  of 
chert. 

At  the  center  of  the  base  of  the  mound,  as  nearly 
as  could  be  determined,  was  a  small  bunched  burial 
having  two  skulls.  With  this  burial  was  a  knife  of 
quartzite;  a  barrel-shaped  bead  of  earthenware,  1.5 
inches  long;  and  a  toy-bowl  of  a  soft  claystone,  about 
1.75  inches  in  diameter.  This  little  toy,  interestingly 
enough,  has  a  mortuary  perforation  in  the  base. 


FIG.  10.— Ornament  of  sheet-copper. 
Mound  near  Jackson.     (Full  size.) 


The  second  mound,  exceeding  twice  the  height  of  the  other  and  of  about  the 
same -diameter,  had  been  badly  dug  into  previous  to  our  visit.  Four  considerable 
holes  made  by  us  and  enlargement  of  the  earlier  one  yielded  nothing. 

MOUNDS  AT  JACKSON  LANDING,  CLARKE  COUNTY. 

At  Jackson  Landing,  within  the  limits  of  the  large  saw-mill  of  the  C.  W. 
Zimmerman  Manufacturing  Company,  of  which  Mr.  C.  W.  Zimmerman,  of  Jackson. 
is  president,  are  remains  of  two  mounds  which  extensive  digging  by  us  showed  to 
have  been  domiciliary,  presumably. 


201.)        CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER. 

MOUND  IN  KIMHELL'S  FIELD,  CLARKE  COUNTY. 

Kimbell's  field,  long  under  cultivation,  controlled  by  Mr.  T.  I.  Kimbell,  executor, 
of  Jackson,  is  about  300  yards  northwest  of  the  Zimmerman  sawmill  at  Jackson 
Landing.  The  mound,  which  had  been  much  ploughed  over,  showed  no  sign  of 
previous  digging.  Its  height  was  5  feet;  the  diameter  of  its  circular  base,  48  feet. 
It  was  completely  dug  away  by  us.  its  composition  being  a  mixture  of  sand,  clay, 
and  gravel. 

Human  remains  were  met  with  in  forty-five  places,  the  deepest  being  3.5  feet 
from  the  surface.  All  bones  were  in  the  last  stage  of  decay  and  crumbling  to  bits. 
The  burials  were  as  follows: 

Isolated  skulls— 23. 

Bunched  burials,  with  a  skull  but  without  the  full  complement  of  the  skeleton — 8. 

Small  bunched  burial  with  two  skulls — 1. 

Small  bunched  burial  without  skull — 1. 

Skull  and  one  long-bone — 1. 

Skull  and  two  long-bones — 1. 

A  few  long-bones  together — 1. 

A  single  long-bone  or  a  fragment  or  fragments  of  one — 8. 

The  remaining  burial  of  the  forty-five,  22  inches  from  the  surface,  consisted  of 
a  skull  and  certain  long-bones.  With  these  were  charcoal  and  less  than  a  handful 
of  bits  of  calcined  bone,  the  fragments  too  small  to  be  positively  identified  as  human, 
though  probably  they  were. 

With  a  fragment  of  femur  was  a  neat  pebble-hammer.  With  an  isolated  skull 
was  a  mass  of  mica,  roughly  elliptical,  6  inches  by  7  inches,  with  a  central  perfora 
tion  and  a  place  nearby  where  another  perforation  had  been  unskilfully  made  or 
attempted  and  abandoned. 

Unassociated  with  human  remains  and  found  singly  were  the  upper  part  of  a 
sheet-copper  ear-plug  of  the  ordinary  type;  four  arrowheads,  three  of  quartzite,  one 
of  chert;  a  cutting  implement  wrought  from  a  large  quart/,  pebble  ;  two  leaf-shaped 
implements  of  quartzite,  lying  a  short  distance  apart. 

A  few  bits  of  pottery  lay  here  and  there  in  the  mound,  some  undecorated,  some 
with  the  small  check-stamp,  one  with  lined  decoration,  another  with  lined  and 
punctate  marking. 

In  the  western  margin  of  the  mound  was  a  small,  undecorated,  imperforate  bowl 
(Vessel  No.  1),  placed  upright  in  part  of  another  undecorated  bowl.  Both  are  of 
inferior  ware. 

In  the  eastern  margin,  lying  mouth  down,  was  a  gourd-shaped  vessel  of  excellent 
ware  (Vessel  No.  2),  with  oval  aperture,  and  having  a  mortuary  perforation.  There 
are  three  annular  decorations  in  relief  emphasized  by  a  surrounding  depression 
(Fig.  11). 

Much  farther  toward  the  center  of  the  mound  \vas  Vessel  No.  3,  in  fragments. 
This  vessel,  pieced  together,  is  imperforate  as  to  the  base,  and  has  a  semiglobular 
body  with  an  octagonal  rim  bearing  punctate  decoration,  probably  made  in  this  in 
stance  by  a  trailing  point  and  not  with  a  roulette,  or  notched  wheel  (Fig.  12). 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBKIUEE  RIVER.      2G1 


FKI.  11. — Vesst-1  No.  2.     .Mound  in  Kimbell's  Field.     (Diameter  6.75  inches.) 


FIG.  12. — Vessel  No.  3.     Mound  in  Kimbell's  Fii-ld.    (Diameter  3.4  inches.) 


FIG.  13.— Vessel  No.  4.     Mound  in  Kimbell's  Field.     (Diameter  9  inches.)  FIG.  14.— Vessel  No.  5.     Mound  in  Kimbell's  Field.     (Diameter  5.25  inches.) 

Toward  the  center  of  tlu>  mound,  together,  were  five  vessels  of  inferior  ware 
lying  above  a  deposit  of  human  bones,  though,  as  burials  were  numerous  in  that 
part  of  the  mound,  the  vessels  may  not  have  been  connected  with  the  remains. 

These  vessels  are  as  follows  : 

Vessel  No.  4. — This  vessel,  of  vellow  ware,  and  in  fragments,  since  eemented 
together,  has  a  mortuary  perforation  of  the  base.  Somewhat  below  the  rim.  which 
has  one  small  projection,  is  an  encircling  band  made  up  of  a  design,  four  times  dis- 
plaved,  consisting  of  a  circle  having  on  each  of  two  opposite  sides  a  pointed  oval  as 
shown  in  Fig.  13.  Possibly  these  emblems  in  conjunction  are  a  highly  conven 
tionalized  bird-form.  The  feather  symbol,  often  found  on  bird-vessels,  upright,  forms 
part  of  the  design  at  each  side. 


262       CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIC.BEE  RIVER. 


Vessel  No.  5. — This  vessel,  semiglobular,  imperforate,  with  thickened  rim,  bears 
a  small  check-stamp  decoration  (Fig.  14). 

Vessel  No.  0. — A  perforate  pot  with  small  check-stamp  decoration  (Fig.  15). 

Vessel  No.  7. — An  undecorated  jar  having  a  basal  mutilation  (Fig.  16). 

Vessel  No.  8. — A  bowl  of  considerable  si/.e,  of  inferior  ware,  found  in  many 
fragments.  The  only  decoration  consists  of  two  encircling,  incised  lines  below  the 


rim. 


FIG.  15.— Vessel  No.  6.     Mound  in  Kimbell's  Field. 
(Diameter  5  inches.) 


FIG.  16.— Vessel  No.  7.     Mound  in  Kimbell's  Field. 
(Diameter  4.9  inches.) 


Shell-tempered  ware  was  not  present  in  this  mound. 

At  or  near  what  seemed  to  be  the  center  of  the  base  of  the  mound,  was  a  pit, 
roughly  circular,  apparently  beginning  at  the  base,  where  its  diameter  was  about  5 
feet,  and  converging  downward  about  20  inches.  This  pit.  which  contained  no 
human  remains,  was  filled  with  the  material  composing  the  mound,  but  colored  black 
with  admixture  of  organic  matter.  In  this  material  were  very  many  small  masses 
of  ferruginous  sandstone. 

MOUXD  OPPOSITE  PEAVEY'S  LANDING,  CLARKE  COUNTY. 

This  mound,  in  sight  from  the  river,  is  at  a  nameless  landing  directly  opposite 
Peavey's  Landing,  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  The  mound,  10  feet  in  height, 
formerly  oblong  in  outline,  is  now  irregular  from  wash  of  water  in  flood-time.  Its 
basal  diameters  are  125  feet  NNW.  and  SSE.,  and  90  feet  ENE.  and  WSW.  The 
summit  plateau  is  55  feet  by  40  feet  in  corresponding  directions.  As  the  mound 
evidently  was  domiciliary,  and  as  its  destruction  could  not  be  permitted  owing  to 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBICBEE  RIVER.       263 

its  advantage  as  a  place  of  refuse  for  cattle  in  high  water,  investigation  was  re 
stricted  to  making  a  considerable  number  of  holes  in  the  summit  plateau  to  learn 
whether  or  not  superficial  burials  had  taken  place  in  the  mound.  Neither  human 
remains  nor  artifacts  were  met  with.  The  digging,  so  far  as  it  went,  showed  the 
mound  to  be  of  clay. 

MOUND  XF.AR  SANTA  Boo  UK  CHKKK,  WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 

This  mound,  in  a  cultivated  field  about  one-half  mile  in  a  southerly  direction 
from  the  mouth  of  Santa  Bogue  creek,  was  about  1  foot  in  height  and  48  feet  in 
basal  diameter.  Careful  investigation  showed  the  mound  to  be  of  sand  with  a  slight 
admixture  of  clay.  It  yielded  no  material  result. 

MOUND  NEAR  MAI.ONK'S  GIN,  CLARKE  COUNTY. 

This  mound,  on  property  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Deas,  of  Coil'eeville,  Alabama,  in  a  cul 
tivated  field,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  SSE.  from  the  landing,  is  of  irregular 
outline,  its  length  being  40  feet  and  its  maximum  breadth,  28  feet.  Its  height  is  1 
foot.  A  few  fragments  of  charcoal  and  one  or  two  bits  of  pottery  alone  showed  the 
mound,  which  was  of  clay,  to  be  of  artificial  origin. 

Near  the  river  bank,  below  Malone's  Gin,  are  several  small  shell  deposits  made 
up  principally  of  Quadrula  heros,  Q.  pernodosa,  Q.  irapczoides,  Q.  ebcna,  Q. 
metanevra,  Lampsilis  purpuratus,  L.  claibortiensis,  Obliquaria  reflexa,  Truncilla 
penita,  Unio  gibbosiis.  Scattered  over  adjacent  fields  are  Hakes  and  small  masses 
of  chert ;  pebble-hammers ;  bits  of  quart/, ;  masses  of  ferruginous  sandstone,  pitted 
on  each  side  ;  arrowheads  and  knives  of  quartzite  ;  cutting  implements  and  irregular 
masses  of  the  same  material  ;  fragments  of  inferior  pottery. 

MOUND  NEAR  BASS'  LANDING,  CIIOCTAW  COUNTY. 

This  mound,  in  a  cornfield,  the  property  of  Mr.  D.  B.  Bass,  of  Bladen  Springs, 
Alabama,  is  in  full  view  from  the  river,  about  one-half  mile  below  Bass'  Landing. 
The  mound,  which  apparently  had  been  subjected  to  much  wash  of  water,  had  an 
irregular  outline  with  basal  diameters  of  45  feet  and  32  feet.  Its  height  was  3  feet 
7  inches.  Thorough  digging  showed  the  mound  to  have  been  made  of  a  mixture  of 
sand  and  clay,  with  much  more  sand  in  some  parts  than  in  others.  No  remains  of 
any  kind  were  discovered. 

MOUND  NEAR  Cox's  LANDING,  CLARKE  COUNTY. 

This  little  mound,  beautifully  situated  on  the  edge  of  the  bluff'  immediately 
above  the  landing,  on  property  of  Mr.  J.  W.  Nichols,  of  Manistee,  Alabama,  had  a 
basal  diameter  of  26  feet  and  an  apparent  height  of  but  2  feet.  No  sign  of  previous 
examination  was  evident.  It  was  entirely  dug  down  by  us  with  the  exception  of 
parts  around  two  trees. 


2G4       CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMB  1C  BEE  RIVER. 

Human  remains,  encountered  at  the  very  margin,  were  found  in  thirty  places, 
at  a  depth  of  from  1  foot  to  nearly  3  feet.  The  burials,  badly  decayed,  resembled 
those  found  in  the  mound  in  Kimbell's  Field,  lone  skulls  and  mere  fragments  of 
long-bones  constituting  separate  interments.  In  one  case  decay  had  gone  so  far  that 
only  a  few  teeth  were  present. 

With  a  skull  and  a  bit  of  long-bone  was  a  mass  of  galena,  about  1.5  inches  by 
1  inch  by  .75  inch.  Another  mass,  about  double  that  size,  lay  with  an  isolated 
skull.  Galena,  lead  sulphide,  assumes  a  new  importance  in  the  mounds  since  we 
know  from  our  investigations  at  Moundville  on  the  Black  Warrior  river  that  the 
carbonate  of  lead  which  forms  on  the  lead  sulphide,  probably  was  used  as  a  paint. 

A  few  bits  of  inferior  pottery,  a  flake  or  two  of  chert,  several  flakes  and  masses 
and  broken  arrowheads,  of  quart/.ite  lay  in  the  mound  apart  from  human  remains. 

At  some  distance  from  the  center,  sand  slightly  darker  than  that  of  the  mound, 
and  containing  scattered  fragments  of  human  bone,  was  noticed.  This  discolored 
sand  suggested  the  presence  of  a  pit.  but  as  it  seemed  to  merge  more  or  less  with 
the  sand  around  it,  definite  limits  could  not  be  determined.  No  base-line  was  met 
with  in  this  mound,  hence  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether  or  not  a  pit  found  beneath 
the  sand  we  have  described  was  connected  with  it  or  not.  Had  there  been  a  base 
line  and  that  line  had  been  cut  through,  it  would  have  been  evident  that  the  black 
sand  above  and  the  pit  below  formed  parts  of  the  same  excavation.  In  the  pit,  5 
feet  3  inches  from  the  surface  of  the  mound,  was  a  deposit  of  sand,  5  feet  in  length, 
3.5  feet  in  breadth,  and  1.5  feet  deep,  deeply  blackened  by  organic  matter.  In  it 
were  bits  of  pottery  having  no  relation  one  to  another — not  a  vessel  broken  and 
thrown  in.  For  a  certain  distance  above  this  dark  deposit  were  scattered,  small  bits 
of  charcoal. 

DWELLING  SITK  AT  THORNTON'S  UPPER  LANDING,  CLARKE  COUNTY. 

Near  this  landing,  which  is  133  miles  by  water  from  Mobile,  on  property  of  Mr. 
E.  L.  Long,  of  Mobile,  and  Mr.  J.  P.  Armistead,  of  Coffeeville,  Alabama,  are  small 
shell  deposits  consisting  mainly  of  two  vivipara,  namely,  Campaloma  ponderosum 
and  Tulotoma  magnified,  the  latter  peculiar  to  the  Alabama  river  system,  and 
several  Unionidaa,  including  Quadrula  cornuta  and  Q.  pernodosa. 

The  neighboring  fields  are  strewn  with  the  usual  debris  of  dwelling-sites.  We 
gathered  a  heart-shaped  mass  of  sandstone,  pitted  on  each  side,  and  another,  more 
roughly  made,  having  five  pits. 

MOUND  NEAR  POWE'S  LANDING,  CIIOCTAAV  COUNTY. 

This  mound,  through  which  a  road  had  been  dug,  was  on  property  of  Mr.  H. 
A.  Powe,  of  Bladen  Springs,  Alabama,  about  one-quarter  mile  below  the  landing, 
on  the  river  bank.  The  mound  originally  had  been  about  5  feet  high  and  about  48 
feet  across  the  base.  The  remnants  of  this  mound  were  dug  into  to  a  considerable 
extent  by  us  without  discovery  of  human  bones  or  artifacts. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS.  LOWER  TOM  BIG  BEE  RIVER.        2G5 

Mor.\i>  NKAH  NOIH.E'S  Gix,  CLARKE  COUNTY. 

In  a  cultivated  field,  the  property  of  the  Mobile  Lumber  Company,  of  Mobile, 
was  a  mound  about  one-quarter  mile  above  the  gin,  near  the  river's  hank.  This 
mound,  which,  evident!  v,  had  long  been  under  cultivation,  was  much  spread  by  the 
plough  and  probably  reduced  in  height  at  the  same  time.  It  resembled  an  irregular 
ridge  85  feet  long.  At  the  narrower  end  it  was  36  feet  across.  At  55  feet  from 
the  latter  end  it  was  49  feet  across,  its  maximum  width,  and  there  attained  its 
greatest  height,  4  feet  3  inches. 

In  the  surrounding  field,  the  surface  of  which  had  been  disturbed  by  the  plough 
and  by  wash  of  water  in  a  recent  Hood,  were  flakes  and  small  masses,  of  quartzite, 
in  all  directions,  but,  curiously  enough,  no  fragment  of  pottery  was  noticed,  although 
careful  search  was  made. 

This  mound,  which  was  completely  leveled  by  us,  made  of  clay  having  a 
certain  admixture  of  sand,  seemingly  had  not  been  dug  into  before  our  visit,  except 
to  place  four  posts  for  a  small  shed  for  cattle.  Near  the  margin  were  a  few  frag 
ments  of  pottery,  bearing  a  small  check-stamp.  Farther  in  were  several  bits  of 
ordinary  ware,  undecorated,  and  one  sherd  bearing  a  series  of  parallel,  incised  lines. 
In  the  marginal  parts  of  the  mound,  perhaps  surface  deposits  ploughed  under,  were 
a  number  of  bits  of  quartzite  and  several  broken  arrowheads;  four  rough  cutting 
implements  ;  six  arrowheads,  possibly  knives,  all  quartzite.  One  arrowhead  was 
rather  neatly  made,  being  serrated  and  having  one  side  Hat,  the  other  convex. 
Under  the  shed,  where  probably  the  material  from  the  post-holes  had  been  thrown, 
was  a  small  "celt"  and  a  neatly-made  gouge  of  volcanic  stone,  with  a  sharp  edge 
concave  on  one  side.  With  a  lone  skull  was  a  neatly-made  '"celt"  of  volcanic 
stone,  7  inches  long. 

No  human  remains  were  met  with  until  the  outside  10  feet  of  the  mound  had 
been  dug  away,  and  burials  were  infrequent  until  more  central  parts  of  the  mound 
had  been  reached.  There  were  present,  all  in  the  last  stage  of  decay,  seventeen 
burials,  from  G  inches  to  38  inches  below  the  surface,  as  follows  : 

Lone  skulls — 6. 

Small  bunches  without  skulls — 5. 

Small  bunches  with  skulls — 5. 

A  single  femur — 1. 

With  one  burial  was  a  quantity  of  sandy  clay  colored  with  red  pigment ;  and 
in  another  place,  where  no  burial  was  found,  the  clay  wras  reddened  where  possibly 
a  burial  had  disappeared  through  decay. 

MOUND  KEI.OW  BASHI  CHEEK.  CI.AKKE  COUNTY. 

About  one  mile  below  the  mouth  of  Bashi  creek  is  a  cultivated  field  belonging 
to  the  Mobile  Lumber  Company,  of  Mobile.  About  one  hundred  yards  from  the 
river,  in  this  field,  is  a  mound  of  irregular  basal  outline,  apparently  much  spread  by 
cultivation  and  at  the  same  time  reduced  in  height.  On  the  surface  of  the  mound 

34  JOUK.V.   A.  X.  S.  PHIL.V.   VOL.  XIII. 


266        CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBICBEE  RIVER. 

and  in  the  large  surrounding  field  were  many  flakes  and  chippings,  mainly  of 
quartzitc  ;  and  on  the  mound  were  small  bits  of  inferior  earthenware.  The  present 
measurements  of  the  mound  are  :  basal  diameters,  220  feet  east  and  west;  180  feet 
north  and  south  ;  height,  6.5  feet. 

Many  excavations  yielded  two  arrowheads  or  knives,  of  quartzite,  and  one  of 
chert.     One  frasment  of  bone  was  met  with,  too  much  decaved  for  identification. 


'- 


MOUND  NEAR  BASHI  CHEEK.  CLARKE  COUNTY. 

In  a  field  formerly  under  cultivation,  about  one-quarter  mile  in  a  southeasterly 
direction  from  the  mouth  of  Bashi  creek,  on  property  of  the  Mobile  Lumber  Company, 
was  a  mound  that  evidently  had  lost  parts  of  two  sides  through  the  agency  of  the 
plough.  Previous  visitors  had  left  a  hole  in  the  central  part,  3  feet  by  4  feet,  by 
4  feet  deep.  The  mound,  which  was  entirely  dug  down  by  us,  consisted  of  a  mix 
ture  of  clay  and  sand.  Its  height  was  a  trifle  more  than  5  feet;  its  basal  measure 
ments,  25  feet  by  34  feet. 

Human  remains  were  encountered  in  twelve  places,  one  burial  being  more  than 
4  feet  deep.  The  burials,  with  one  exception,  resembled  in  form  those  in  mounds 
lately  described  by  us.  and  were  fragmentary  and  badly  decayed.  Just  beneath 
the  surface  were  a  number  of  bones  together,  having  under  them  fragments  of  what 
had  been  a  vessel  or  a  large  part  of  a  vessel  of  considerable  size.  The  ware,  shell- 
tempered,  was  inferior  and  undecorated.  Here,  doubtless,  were  the  remains  of  an 
urn-burial. 

With  one  burial  were  two  flakes  of  chert. 

The  bones  in  this  mound  were  so  badly  decayed  (in  one  case  one  fragment 
only  being  present  with  a  few  teeth),  that  it  is  hard  to  say  whether  or  not  objects 
found  alone  had  been  with  burials  originally.  In  addition  to  many  flakes,  chip- 
pings,  and  small  masses  of  rock,  there  were  in  the  mound,  singly  and  apparently 
away  from  bones,  twelve  cutting  implements,  lances,  arrowheads,  and  knives,  all  of 
quart/.ite  except  one  of  red  chert. 
There  were  also  in  the  mound  an 
interesting  implement,  apparently 
an  arrowhead  or  knife,  utilized  as  a 
drill  after  breakage,  an  ellipsoidal 
pebble-hammer,  and  a  ball  of  grani 
tic  rock,  about  2.5  inches  in  diameter. 

Lying  closely  packed  together 
was  a  deposit  of  fifty  masses  of  sand 
stone  and  of  ferruginous  sandstone, 
from  the  si/e  of  a  fist  downward, 
together  with  a  slab  of  the  latter 
stone.  A  neatly-made  smoothing- 
stone  of  fine-grained,  ferruginous 
sandstone,  apparently  shaped  to  be 

,      ,  -,    •       .,        i  FIG.  17. — Sherd.     Mound  near  liashi  creek. 

held  in  the  hand,  fay  alone.  (About  fun  size.) 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER.       207 

While  the  surface  of  the  surrounding  field  was  strewn  with  fragments  of  stone, 
practically  no  pottery  was  in  evidence,  and  in  the  mound  almost  an  equal  scarcity 
of  earthenware  was  noted.  Of  several  bits  met  with,  one  bore  the  small  check- 
stamp ;  another,  the  novel,  incised  decoration  shown  in  Fig.  17. 

About  16  inches  from  the  surface  were  a  number  of  small  fragments  of  sheet- 
copper,  corroded  through  and  through.  On  the  base  of  the  mound  was  a  copper 
ear-plug  of  the  usual  t\'pe  or,  more  correctly  speaking,  the  outer  part  of  the  ear 
plug  was  present,  that  part  which  was  worn  behind  the  lobe  of  the  ear.  serving  to 
hold  the  outer  part  in  place,  being  missing.  Possibly  this  part  had  been  of  some 
perishable  material.  Various  materials,  doubtless,  were  utilized  by  the  aborigines 
lor  the  rear  portion  of  the  ear-plug.  In  Florida  we  found  ear-plugs  with  discs  of 
sheet-copper  to  be  worn  in  front  of  the  ear,  which  had  been  attached  to  circular 
bits  of  earthenware  for  use  behind  the  lobe. 

Just  below  the  surface,  together,  were  two  outer  halves  of  ear-plugs  of  sheet- 
copper,  with  beaded  margins. 

MOUND  ox  THE  WAITERS'  PLANTATION*,  MAKENGO  COUNTY. 

The  Waiters'  plantation,  the  property  of  Mr.  J.  A.  Walters,  of  Mobile,  is  on 
the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  opposite  Brown's  Landing.  The  mound.  5  feet  high 
and  54  feet  across  its  circular  base,  is  but  a  few  feet  from  the  water's  edge,  in  a  cul 
tivated  field.  There  was  no  sign  on  the  surface  of  previous  digging,  the  mound 
presenting  a  peculiarly  uniform  and  rounded  appearance.  Later,  however,  evidence 
that  one  or  two  narrow  and  superficial  holes  had  been  made  and  refilled,  became 
apparent.  As  the  mound  was  suitable  as  a  refuge  for  cattle  in  Hood-time,  a  marginal 
part  10  feet  in  diameter  on  all  sides  was  left  untouched  by  us.  and  the  part  enclosed 
by  this,  -U  feet  across,  was  completely  dug  away  at  a  level  somewhat  below  that  of 
the  base  of  the  mound.  In  this  way  that  part  of  the  mound  most  exposed  to  wash 
of  water  was  left  intact,  and  this  was  accomplished  presumably  with  no  loss  to  our 
selves  as  nothing  material  was  met  with  until  considerable  digging  had  been  done, 
the  first  burial  found  being  5  feet  in  from  where  the  excavation  was  commenced. 
The  mound  was  composed  of  sand  with  a  small  admixture  of  clay. 

At  the  beginning  of  our  digging.  3.5  feet  down,  on  the  base,  which  was  clearly 
marked  in  this  mound,  we  came  upon  a  fire-place.  We  cannot  say  how  far  this 
fire-place  extended  outward,  but  when  uncovered  by  us  it  was  present  along  the  cir 
cumference  of  the  northern  half  of  the  mound  and  continued  in  for  about  0  feet. 
It  was  marked  by  burnt  earth  and  a  layer  of  charcoal  with  a  maximum  thickness 
of  1.5  inches. 

Scattered  through  the  mound  were  the  usual  fragments  of  quartzite ;  eight 
arrowheads,  knives,  scrapers,  and  drills,  of  the  same  material ;  and  one  neat  little 
bird-arrowhead  of  chert,  somewhat  broken.  A  few  bits  of  earthenware  were  scat 
tered  through  the  mound,  chiefly  undecorated,  though  two  or  three  bore  the  small 
check-stamp. 

Human  remains  were  encountered  in  thirty-two  places,  mainly  in  the  more 


208       CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER. 

central  parts  of  the  mound  where  were  all  entire  skeletons.  The  bones,  badly  de- 
raved,  were  found  from  the  surface  to  the  base,  while  one  skeleton  lay  in  a  pit  more 
than  a  foot  below  the  base,  or  more  than  6  feet  from  the  surface.  The  forms  of 
burial  were  as  follows  : 

Lone  skulls — S. 

Small  bunches  with  a  single  skull — 2. 

Small  bunches  without  skull — 6. 

Fragments  of  bone — 2. 

Skeletons  flexed  on  the  right  side,  including  one  of  an  adolescent — 4. 

Skeletons  flexed  on  the  left  side,  including  one  of  an  adolescent  and  one  of  a 
child— 6. 

Skeleton  full  length  on  back — 1. 

Ten  inches  below  the  surface  was  the  lower  part  of  a  skeleton,  flexed  on  the 
left  side,  extending  to  the  upper  part  of  the  thorax.  Scattered  bones  of  the  upper 
part  lay  around.  This,  probably,  was  a  recent  disturbance. 

A  skull  and  part  of  an  arm  bone  lay  29  inches  from  the  surface,  in  a  part  of 
the  mound  where  burials  were  numerous  and  where  an  aboriginal  disturbance  might 
have  been  looked  for. 

A  skull  with  scattered  bones  lay  1  foot  down. 

This  completes  the  list  of  thirty-two  burials. 

Behind  a  flexed  skeleton  alreadv  noted,  lay  many  disarranged  bones. 

One  of  the  flexed  skeletons  had  resting  on  the  leg  bones  the  skull  of  a  child. 

Two  of  the  flexed  skeletons  in  this  mound  were  more  closely  drawn  together 
than  are  those  we  usually  call  flexed,  and  verged  on  the  closely  flexed. 

The  lower  extremities  of  a  flexed  skeleton  showed  marked  pathological  changes. 
A  femur,  tibia,  and  fibula  belonging  to  this  skeleton  have  been  sent  by  us  to  the 
Army  Medical  Museum  at  Washington.  The  corresponding  bones  of  the  other  side 
were  badly  broken  in  digging. 

In  the  central  part  of  the  mound,  separate,  were  five  skeletons  associated  with 
charcoal.  One  of  these  skeletons  had  earth  colored  with  red  pigment  on  the  trunk, 
extending  to  the  pelvis,  and  considerable  charcoal  near  the  head.  Charcoal  was  at 
the  head  of  another  skeleton  and  at  the  feet  of  a  third.  The  position  of  the  char 
coal  in  the  two  other  instances  is  not  given  in  our  field-notes. 

Near  certain  scattered  bones  was  a  neatly  made  arrowhead  of  cehrt. 

A  flexed  skeleton  had  with  it,  together,  one  jasper  pebble ;  two  pebbles  of  the 
same  material,  somewhat  broken  ;  a  drill  fashioned  from  a  pebble  of  jasper;  a  drill 
of  quartzite;  a  pointed  implement  of  the  same  stone,  perhaps  a  drill;  a  roughly 
made  or  unfinished  implement;  and  the  end  of  a  rude,  pointed  tool,  the  latter  two 
of  quartzite. 

A  flexed  skeleton  of  an  adolescent  had  many  shell  beads  at  the  neck. 

Lying  near  the  pelvis  of  a  skeleton  of  a  child,  together,  were  a  piercing  imple 
ment  made  from  the  cannon-bone  of  a  deer ;  a  bone  of  a  raccoon  ;  a  quart/,  pebble ; 
and  a  pointed  fragment  of  quart/.ite.  Witli  this  deposit,  curiously  enough,  con- 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER.       269 

sidering  that  it  lay  with  the  bones  of  a  child,  where  careful  search  showed  no  other 
bones  to  be  near,  was  a  smoking-pipe  of  earthenware,  of  the  usual  type  of  this 
region  as  to  form,  but  of  considerably  better  ware  than  is  looked  for  in  this  part  of 


Fid.  18. — Pipe  of  earthenware.     Mound  on  Walters'  Plantation.     (Height  4.12  inches.) 

the  country  when  pipes  are  concerned.  The  only  decoration  is  an  incised,  encircling 
line  around  the  bowl  (Fig.  18).  Within  the  pipe  was  a  small,  neatly-made  fish 
hook  of  bone. 

Mot'XI)    BKLOW    HOKSK    ClJKKK,    ClIOCTAW    CoUXTV. 

Another  plantation  owned  by  Mr.  J.  A.  Watters  is  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  about  174  miles  by  water  from  Mobile.  The  plantation,  not  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  any  particular  landing,  is  about  one-half  mile  below  the  mouth  of  Horse 
creek,  which  enters  the  river,  however,  on  the  opposite,  or  eastern,  side,  in  Marengo 
county. 

The  mound,  in  a  cultivated  field,  though  itself  showing  no  sign  of  the  plough, 
within  30  yards  of  the  river  and  parallel  with  it.  is  a  fine  example  of  a  small  domi 
ciliary  mound,  being  perfectly  square  with  a  Hat  summit  plateau.  The  diameter  of 
the  base  is  62  feet;  that  of  the  summit  plateau,  44  feet.  The  height  is  4  feet  9 
inches. 

Although  it  was  evident  from  the  shape  of  the  mound  that  it  was  constructed 
for  domiciliary  purposes,  yet  to  assure  ourselves  and  to  detect  any  surface  burials, 
a  considerable  part  of  the  mound  was  dug  away.  No  bone  or  artifact  was  encountered. 


270       CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBKiBEE  RIVER. 

MOUNDS  BELOW  BEAVKK  CKKEK,  MARENGO  COUNTY. 

In  woods,  almost  at  the  water's  edge,  about  one  mile  below  Beaver  creek,  on 
property  of  Mr.  Joseph  H.  Compton,  of  Nanafalia,  Alabama,  were  four  small  mounds. 
These  mounds  were  completely  dug  down  by  us  with  the  exception  of  part  around 
a  tree  in  one  mound  and  of  certain  marginal  portions  in  all  the  mounds,  which 
seemed  not  to  have  belonged  to  them  originally,  but  to  be  due  to  wash  of  water. 
As  no  bones  or  artifacts  were  found  until  considerable  digging  had  been  done  by  us, 
it  is  probable  our  estimate  was  a  correct  one. 

The  southernmost  mound  was  about  40  yards  distant  from  its  nearest  neighbor. 
Its  height  was  3  feet  3  inches;  the  diameter  of  its  circular  base,  45  feet.  Near  the 
eastern  side  was  a  deep  depression  whence  material  for  the  mound  had  come.  Pre 
vious  diggers  had  left  a  shallow  trench,  5  feet  in  width,  extending  inward  19  feet 
from  the  eastern  margin.  Along  this  trench  and  in  material  thrown  from  it  were 
small  fragments  of  human  bones. 

The  mound,  which  contained  much  more  sand  in  the  upper  than  in  the  lower 
part,  seemingly  had  been  built  on  a  dwelling  site  which  contained  the  usual  debris, 
including  fresh-water  mussel-shells  (Lampsilis  rrc/us,  L.  purpuraitis,  L.  atiodon- 
t  aides}. 

From  the  mound  came  pebble-hammers,  pebbles,  chips  of  quart/Jte,  small  masses 
of  fossil  wood,  a  quantity  of  limonite  with  the  surface  transformed  into  hematite, 
and  a  pebble  much  worn  as  a  smoothing  implement.  But  lew  bits  of  earthenware 
were  met  with,  and  these  are  of  inferior  quality.  In  but  two  or  three  cases  had 
there  been  attempt  at  decoration,  and  this,  rudely  done,  is  of  the  kind  known  as 
cord-marked,  which,  as  Professor  Holmes1  has  shown,  is  made  with  the  aid  of  a  cord 
wrapped  around  a  wooden  paddle. 

Human  remains,  decayed  through  and  through,  were  met  with  in  six  places,  in 
addition  to  the  fragments  of  bone  referred  to  as  lying  near  the  trench.  These 
burials  are  as  follows  : 

Burial  No.  1. — A  fragment  of  a  skull. 

Burial  No.  '2. — A  skeleton  lying  at  full  length  on  the  back,  2  feet  below  the 
surface,  with  charcoal  under  it  and  extending  somewhat  beyond  it. 

Burial  No.  3. — Four  feet  from  the  surface,  with  charcoal  above  it,  was  a  full- 
length  skeleton  on  its  back,  having  near  the  skull,  grouped  together,  six  fragments 
of  quart/Jte,  three  of  which,  fairly  sharp  at  one  end,  may  have  seen  service  as 
drills.  With  these  were  one  bit  of  sandstone,  a  small  jasper,  arrowhead,  and  part 
of  what  may  have  been  an  implement  of  bone.  On  the  thorax  of  this  skeleton  lay 
a  spearhead  or  dagger,  of  quart/.ite,  7.2-5  inches  long  by  2.25  inches  wide. 

Burial  No.  4. — Immediately  bv  the  side  of   Burial   No.   3  was  an  elongated 

•/  ^ 

bunch  of  bones  beneath  charcoal. 

Burial  No.  5. — On  a  layer  of  charcoal,  3  feet  from  the  surface,  lay  a  skull,  with 
a  pair  of  lemurs  2  feet  distant. 

Burial  No.  G. — A  skull  and  certain  scattered  bones  lay  20  inches  from  the 
surface,  with  charcoal  beneath  them. 

1  "Aboriginal  Pottery  of  Eastern  United  States."     20tli  Ann.  Rep.  Bur.  Am.  Ethn.,  p.  73. 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER.       271 

The  next  mound,  elliptical  in  contour,  was  36  feet  long  by  27  feet  in  maximum 
width  and  somewhat  less  than  2  feet  high.  It  showed  no  mark  of  previous  digging. 
This  mound  was  composed  of  sand  mixed  with  a  considerable  proportion  of  clay, 
and  midden  refuse  lay  at  the  base.  One  full-length  skeleton,  lying  on  the  back, 
was  the  only  occurrence  of  human  remains.  An  implement  of  chert,  about  5  inches 
long,  probably  a  knife,  showing  a  flat  cleavage  on  one  side  and  considerable  work 
on  the  other,  lay  alone  in  the  earth,  as  did  a  pointed  implement  of  quart/.ite. 

The  next  mound  \vas  practically  in  contact  with  the  one  to  the  south  of  it.  Its 
height  was  4.5  feet;  the  diameter  of  its  circular  base,  40  feet.  It  was  almost  of 
pure  sand,  no  midden  refuse  lying  on  the  base. 

Human  remains,  all  badly  decayed,  were  three  times  encountered. 

Eighteen  inches  down  were  the  remains  of  a  skull  and  fragments  of  a  long- 
bone. 

All  that  was  left  of  what  had  been  a  burial  flexed  on  the  left  side,  lay  15 
inches  from  the  surface. 

At  a  depth  of  18  inches  were  fragments  of  what  had  been  a  skeleton  at  full 
length  on  the  back. 

This  mound,  which  was  symmetrical  and  practically  untouched  previously,  sur 
prised  us  by  the  paucity  of  its  yield. 

The  fourth  mound  was  about  GO  yards  farther  north.  Its  base,  roughly  circular, 
had  a  diameter  of  30  feet;  its  height  was  3  feet,  This  mound,  almost  of  pure 
clay,  was  completely  dug  away  with  the  exception  of  the  part  around  a  large  tree 
to  which  reference  has  been  made,  without  discovery  of  artifact  or  bone. 

MOUNDS  NEAR  MOUTH  OF  BEAVER  CREEK,  MARENGO  COUNTY. 

In  thick  swamp,  which  is  under  water  in  high  stages  of  the  river,  about  one- 
half  mile  in  an  ENE.  direction  from  the  south  side  of  the  mouth  of  Beaver  creek, 
on  property  of  the  Misses  Luther,  of  Luther's  Store,  Alabama,  is  a  group  of  four 
teen  mounds,  according  to  our  count,  though  possibly  some  escaped  us.  These 
mounds,  of  sand,  in  close  proximity  one  to  another,  have  circular  bases  as  a  rule, 
though  some  are  slightly  elliptical.  Among  the  mounds  are  many  steep  depres 
sions  whence  sand  for  the  building  of  the  mounds  was  taken,  and,  in  obtaining 
measurements  of  height,  it  is  wise  to  be  on  level  ground  and  not  in  one  of  these 
depressions,  lest  undue  altitude  be  accorded  the  mounds.  In  size  these  mounds 
vary  considerably.  The  largest  has  basal  diameters  of  38  feet  by  33  feet,  and  a 
height  of  4  feet  8  inches.  The  smallest  mound,  excluding  certain  insignificant 
elevations  as  to  the  nature  of  which  we  are  not  sure,  has  a  basal  diameter  of  23 
feet  and  a  height  of  about  2  feet. 

As  all  these  mounds  serve  as  a  refuge  for  cattle  when  the  swamp  is  under 
wrater,  it  was  not  our  wish  to  destroy  them  ;  therefore,  the  four  southernmost 
mounds,  three  of  the  largest  and  one  of  the  smallest,  were  dug  out  centrally  to 


272       CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBKiBEE  RIVER. 

their  bases,  the  excavations  having,  respectively,  diameters  of  16  feet,  17  feet.  12 
feet,  and  11  feet.  These  excavations  afterward  were  carefully  refilled. 

Not  a  single  fragment  of  earthenware  was  met  with  in  the  mounds,  nor  were 
the  usual  bits  of  stone  present.  One  rough  piercing  implement  of  quart/.ite  lay 
alone,  as  did  a  flat  pendant  of  slaty  stone,  about  3.75  inches  in  length,  with  an 
elongated,  pear  shaped  outline. 

Human  remains  were  hopelessly  decayed.  In  one  mound  were  :  what  was 
left  of  a  skeleton  lying  at  full  length  on  the  back  ;  a  skull  and  two  small  fragments 
of  long-bone ;  and  a  skull,  two  scapula?  and.  perhaps,  parts  of  two  humeri  with 
another  skull  5  inches  lower.  On  the  base  of  this  mound  was  a  skeleton  lying  at 
full  length  on  the  back.  Near  the  skull  were  seven  ordinary  river  pebbles,  eighteen 
fragments  of  pebbles,  one  small  arrowhead  of  jasper,  one  rude,  pointed  implement 
of  quartzite,  and  one  fragment  of  shell.  With  these  were  two  fragments  of  a  jaw 
of  a  wildcat,  kindly  identified  for  us  by  Prof.  F.  A.  Lucas. 

In  another  mound  was  a  lone  skull  18  inches  down.  and.  lying  on  what  we 
judged  to  be  the  center  of  the  base  of  the  mound,  traces  of  a  full-length  burial. 

A  third  mound  had  a  lone  skull  10  inches  from  the  surface  and,  centrally  on 
the  base,  a  skeleton  flexed  on  the  right  side  with  a  bunch  of  bones  beside  it,  in 
cluding  three  skulls. 

The  only  human  remains  met  with  in  one  of  the  three  largest  mounds  were 
parts  of  a  skull. 

This  grouping  together  of  a  considerable  number  of  small  mounds,  which  is 
first  met  with  at  this  place,  going  north  on  the  Tornbigbee,  is  noted  here  and  there, 
following  the  river  for  a  distance  of  seventeen  miles  until  Bickley's  Landing  is 
reached,  where,  in  1901.  we  found  forty  small  mounds  together.  Above  this  point 
such  groups  of  small  mounds  are  not  encountered  on  the  Tornbigbee. 

Mouxus  NEAR  BHECKENKIDGE   LANDING,  MAKENGO  COUNTY. 

In  high  swamp,  about  one-half  mile  NNE.  from  the  landing,  at  and  near  a  set 
tlement  of  colored  persons,  is  a  group  of  small  mounds  on  property  belonging  to 
Messrs.  J.  D.  Carter  and  Brother,  of  Myrtlewood,  Alabama  Certain  of  these 
mounds  are  in  thick  brush,  some  in  open  woods,  a  few  in  a  cultivated  field  ;  others 
are  immediately  in  the  settlement.  It  is  our  belief  that  we  failed  to  make  an 
entirely  accurate  count  of  these  mounds.  Presumably  some  escaped  our  enumera 
tion  and  others  were  twice  included.  At  all  events,  the  mounds  number  between 
forty  and  fifty — certainly  more  than  forty.  In  height  they  range  between  1  foot 
and  slightly  less  than  0  feet,  though  the  latter  height  is  exceptional.  In  basal 
diameter  the  mounds  are  between  15  feet  and  45  feet.  We  did  not  note  at  this 
place  the  presence  of  shallow  pits  or  of  deep  depressions  whence  material  had  been 
taken,  which  were  so  numerous  in  the  group  of  mounds  near  Beaver  creek. 

As  these  mounds  are  resorted  to  by  cattle  when  the  river  overflows  its  banks, 
we  felt  constrained  to  limit  our  investigation  of  them  to  the  method  wre  had  adopted 
with  the  mounds  near  the  mouth  of  Beaver  creek — by  excavating  the  central  por- 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBHIBEE  RIVER.        27 


q 


tioii  of  certain  of  the  mounds  down  to  the  base,  and  afterward  returning  the 
material. 

Eiirht  mounds,  all  of  sand  with  a  slight  admixture  of  clav.  were  treated  l>v  us 

*    '  t/ 

in  this  way.  The  few  scattering  sherds  met  with  are  of  inferior  ware,  are  not  shell- 
tempered,  and,  where  decorated  at  all.  bear  a  cord-marked  impression,  with  one 
exception,  which  has  the  small  check-stamp. 

All  bones  in  these  mounds  were  badly  decayed.  There  was  one  noticeable 
feature  as  to  burials;  skulls  had  been  placed  to  the  east  of  the  bones  they  accom 
panied,  whether  the  burial  was  what  was  left  of  a  skeleton  or  was  of  the  bunched 
variety. 

Mound  Number  I.— This  mound,  measuring  4  feet  G  inches  high,  and  29  feet 
across  its  base,  had  a  core  10  feet  in  diameter  dug  from  its  center  by  us.  An  arrow 
head  of  quartzite  lay  apart  from  bones.  Nine  inches  from  the  surface,  centrally  in 
the  mound,  were  a  skull,  two  femurs,  and  a  fragment  of  a  small  bone. 

Mound  Number  2. — Height,  2  feet  8  inches;  diameter.  24  feet  across  its  circular 
base.  The  diameter  of  the  portion  excavated  was  10  feet.  A  skull  lay  28  inches 
from  the  surface.  At  the  same  depth,  but  some  distance  away,  were  fragments  of 
bone,  probably  human.  Near  the  skull  was  a  nest  of  pebbles  evidently  carefully 
selected,  as  each  was  nearly  round  and  about  the  size  of  a  small  pea.  Presumably 
they  formed  part  of  a  rattle,  the  turtle-shell  belonging  to  which  had  decayed  away. 
With  the  pebbles  were  six  small  arrowheads  of  jasper,  rather  roughly  made  ;  a  neat 
drill  wrought  from  a  jasper  pebble,  still  showing  the  rough  surface  of  the  stone  on 
its  base ;  also  eight  pebbles  and  bits  of  pebbles. 

Mound  Number  3. — Height,  5  feet  6  inches;  diameter,  33  feet;  diameter  of 
portion  excavated,  16  feet.  Centrally  in  the  mound.  2  feet  down,  was  a  skull  with 
two  phalanges  nearby.  Next  came  a  space  devoid  of  bones  or  artifacts,  and  then  a 
pelvis  and  two  femurs  in  line  as  if  they  belonged  to  a  skeleton  from  which  the  ribs 
and  vertebra*  had  been  taken  or  had  disappeared  through  decay.  Beside  the  skull 
was  a  considerable  deposit,  as  follows:  three  "celts."  10  inches.  7  inches.  o.7-"> 
inches,  in  length,  respectively,  one  of  volcanic  rock,  two  presented  to  the  owner  of 
the  mound  without  identification;  three  cannon-bones  of  deer;  four  pebbles,  each 
about  the  size  of  a  child's  fist,  three  apparently  used  as  smoothing-stones,  one  prob 
ably  as  a  hammer;  a  mass  of  what  chemical  analysis  has  shown  to  be  glauconite. 
or  green  earth,  which  takes  its  color  from  iron  in  the  ferrous  state,  presumably  used 
as  a  paint;  fragments  of  fresh-water  shells;  six  small,  barbless  fish-hooks  of  bone. 
all  more  or  less  broken  ;  live  small  arrowpoints,  four  of  jasper,  one  of  quartzite  ; 
one  bit  of  pottery  ;  37  pebbles,  bits  of  pebbles  and  small  masses  of  stone,  all  jasper 
or  quartzite;  an  unidentified  object,  perhaps  a  fossil;  a  foot-bone  of  a  deer;  a 
piercing  implement  of  bone  ;  four  masses  of  red,  or  brick,  clay  ;  a  claw  not  affording 
features  for  positive  identification  ;  part  of  a  jaw  of  a  wildcat :  an  incisor  of  a 
beaver;  a  tooth  of  a  woodchuck  ;  a  penis-bone  of  an  otter ;  the  foot-bones  of  a  large 

35  JOUKX.  A.  X.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.   XIII. 


274        CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER. 

panther  (Fclis  concolor}.     The  last  five  identifications  kindly  were  made  for  us  by 
Prof.  F.  A.  Lucas. 

Centrally,  on  the  base  of  the  mound,  was  a  bunched  burial,  including  certain 
bones  of  a  child.  At  the  eastern  end  of  the  deposit  were  two  adult  skulls  and  one 
belonging  to  a  child.  With  these  were  a  few  cylindrical,  shell  beads,  each  about  an 
inch  in  length. 

Mound  Number  4. — This  was  situated  in  a  cleared  field,  and  had  been  ploughed 
over  to  some  extent.  Its  height  was  4.5  feet;  its  major  and  minor  diameters  46 
feet  and  36  feet,  respectively.  This  mound,  which  was  almost  surrounded  by  a 
shallow  trench,  was  completely  leveled  by  us.  About  3  feet  down,  considerably  to 
one  side  of  the  center,  was  a  burial  similar  to  one  we  have  described  before  as  found 
at  this  place,  where  a  space  without  bones  lay  between  the  skull  and  the  pelvis. 
From  the  pelvis  two  femurs  and  two  tibia;  extended  in  proper  order.  Probably  the 
foot-bones  were  dug  away  by  our  men.  On  or  near  the  center  of  the  base,  43 
inches  down,  was  a  skeleton  flexed  on  the  right  side.  Back  of  the  skeleton  was  a 
bunched  burial  having  one  skull.  Over  this  burial,  but  not  over  the  skeleton,  was 
charcoal. 

Mound  Number  5. — Height,  1  foot  10  inches;  basal  diameter,  19  feet;  portion 
centrally  dug  out,  12  feet.  Twenty-two  inches  down  were  a  skull,  then  a  space 
without  bones,  and  then,  on  the  same  level,  a  pelvis  witli  two  femurs  in  place  ex 
tending  from  it.  Near  the  skull,  the  earth  was  colored  red.  In  a  deposit  along 
side  were :  one  pebble ;  one  arrowhead  of  quartzite ;  five  small  arrow-points  of 
jasper;  part  of  an  undecorated  smoking-pipe  of  an  ordinary  type,  and  a  mass  of 
clay  material.  On  top  of  the  skull  lay  a  badly-decayed  bone  of  a  lower  animal,  and 
a  lancehead  of  quartzite,  4.5  inches  in  length. 

Mound  Number  G. — Height,  1  foot;  diameter,  1G  feet;  portion  excavated,  11 
feet  across.  Ten  inches  down  were  a  skull,  a  fragment  of  scapula,  two  humeri,  part 
of  an  ulna,  and  a  bit  of  bone  on  the  other  side  of  the  skeleton  where  the  forearm 
would  have  been.  Next  came  a  pelvis  in  position  and  at  a  proper  distance  from 
the  skull.  Extending  from  the  pelvis  were  two  femurs.  Near  the  skull  were  a 
small,  unbarbed  fish-hook  of  bone,  grooved  for  a  line  at  one  end ;  several  small  bits 
of  pottery  and  a  few  chippings  from  pebbles.  With  this  material  were  two  human 
phalanges. 

Mound  Number  7. — Height,  1  foot  6  inches;  diameter,  19  feet;  a  core  12  feet 
across  was  dug  out  by  us.  In  it  were  a  lone  skull  and  several  fragments  of  pebbles. 

Mound  Number  8. — Height,  1  foot  8  inches;  diameter,  21  feet;  11  feet  of  the 
inside  dug  out  by  us.  Just  under  the  surface  was  a  deposit  consisting  of  a  good- 
si/ed  arrowhead  of  quartzite;  one  bit  of  pottery;  29  fragments  of  pebbles;  two 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER.       275 

bits  of  animal  bone,  badly  decayed  ;  a  diminutive  arrowhead  of  jasper;  a  neat  drill 
made  from  a  jasper  pebble  ;  a  piercing  implement  of  bone.  At  a  depth  of  1  foot, 
and  1  loot  distant  from  the  deposit  just  described,  was  a  skull,  followed  by  a  space 
occupied  only  by  a  fragment  resembling  part  of  an  arm-bone.  Next  came  a  de- 
caving  bit  of  pelvis  and  two  femurs  rightly  placed,  having  two  tibia-  flexed  back. 

About  one  mile  from  Breckenridge  Landing,  in  a  SE.  direction,  is  a  group  of 
about  twenty  small  mounds  which  the  owner  is  unwilling  to  have  investigated. 

MOUND  NKAK  STEINKH'S  LANDING.  CHOCTAW  COUNTY. 

About  one-half  mile  in  a  southerly  direction  from  Steiner's  Landing,  on  property 
of  the  Allison  Lumber  Company,  of  Bellamy.  Alabama,  about  50  yards  from  the 
water,  was  a  mound  of  elongated  oval  outline,  that  had  long  been  under  cultivation. 
Fragments  of  bone  lay  here  and  there  on  the  surface.  Its  length  was  54  feet ;  its 
maximum  width,  which  was  at  39  feet  from  the  narrower  end,  was  34  feet;  here 
also  the  mound  attained  its  maximum  height,  2.5  feet.  The  mound,  which  showed 
no  sign  of  former  digging,  but  was  completely  leveled  by  us.  was  composed  of  sand 
with  an  admixture  of  clay.  In  it,  apart  from  human  remains,  were  several  jasper 
pebbles;  one  arrowhead  or  knife,  of  quartzite ;  and  a  small  arrowhead  of  jasper. 
On  the  surface  lay  an  arrowhead  of  quartz.  A  few  bits  of  inferior  ware,  without 
shell-tempering,  were  scattered  throughout  the  mound.  Decoration,  when  present, 
was  of  the  cord-marked  kind  previously  referred  to.  An  undecorated  smoking-pipe 
of  earthenware,  of  the  type  common  to  this  region,  which  unfortunately  was  shat 
tered  by  a  blow  from  a  spade,  lay  apart  from  burials. 

In  the  higher  part  of  the  mound,  2  feet  from  the  surface,  lay  what  was  left  of 
a  skeleton  which  had  been  at  full  length  on  the  back.  Over  the  trunk  was  charcoal. 
Near  the  head  were  two  broken  pebbles  of  jasper  and  fragments  of  fresh-water 
mussel-shells.  At  the  shoulder  was  a  handsomely  polished  "celt"  of  volcanic- 
stone,  about  G  inches  in  length. 

In  the  same  part  of  the  mound,  near  the  surface,  was  a  lone  skull. 

It  is  probable  that  this  mound  had  been  much  higher  at  one  time  and  that 
certain  burials  have  been  ploughed  away  during  its  cultivation. 

One-half  mile  north  of  Steiner's  Landing  are  two  small  mounds  in  which  we 
were  not  permitted  to  dig  on  account  of  a  recent  change  in  ownership. 

MOUNDS  NEAR  REMHEKT'S  LANDING,  MAHKNGO  COUNTY. 

In  woods,  the  property  of  Mr.  U.  J.  Meador,  of  Myrtlewood.  Alabama,  about 
one  mile  in  a  westerly  direction  from  the  landing,  is  a  group  of  symmetrical  little 
mounds,  all  near  to  one  another,  some  actually  in  contact.  These  mounds.  31  in 
number,  according  to  our  count,  which  perhaps  omitted  some,  were  smaller  than 
certain  ones  in  the  group  near  Breckenridge  Landing,  none  exceeding  4  feet  in 
height,  though  some  seemed  to  do  so,  owing  to  depressions  near  them  whence 
material  for  their  construction  had  been  taken. 


276        CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER, 

Seven  of  these  mounds  were  dug  by  us  in  the  same  way  that  those  near 
Breckenridge  Landing  were  treated,  and  proved  to  be  of  sand  with  an  admixture 
of  clay,  some  having  considerably  more  clay  than  others. 

Human  remains  in  these  mounds  were  so  hopelessly  decayed  that  presumably 
some  burials  had  totally  disappeared. 

Mound  Number  1. — Height,  3  feet  4  inches ;  basal  diameter,  26  feet,  the  central 
12  feet  of  which  were  dug  out  by  us.  At  seven  inches  below  the  surface  of  this 
circular  mound  was  what  was  left  of  a  skull.  Twenty  inches  down  was  a  bunched 
burial  made  up  of  a  skull  and  a  number  of  long-bones,  and  a  mass  of  material  too 
much  decayed  to  identify.  The  skull  in  this  case  was  to  the  west  of  the  bunch. 
Near  it  were  several  pebbles  and  small  masses  of  rock,  also  a  flat,  roughly  circular 
mass  of  hematite,  6.5  inches  by  7.5  inches,  pitted  on  each  side,  the  depressions 
being  highly  polished.  On  the  base  of  this  mound  were  marks  of  where  a  large 
fire  had  been. 

Mound  Number  2. — A  trifle  over  2  feet  in  height,  and  20  feet  across  the  base. 
The  central  9  feet  were  dug  from  it  by  us.  East  of  the  center,  1C  inches  down, 
were  the  remains  of  a  skull,  some  distance  to  the  west  from  which,  at  the  same 
level,  were  fragments  of  two  long-bones. 

Mound  Number  3. — Height.  2  feet  3  inches;  diameter,  19  feet;  a  core  9  feet 
in  diameter  dug  from  its  center  by  us.  Somewhat  east  of  the  central  part  of  the 
mound,  6  inches  down,  were  fragments  of  a  skull.  At  a  depth  of  2  feet,  west  of 
the  center,  was  a  skull,  then  a  space  without  bones,  then  a  femur,  and  a  fragment 
of  bone,  perhaps  representing  another  femur,  both  at  right  angles  to  an  imaginary 
line  drawn  through  the  skull.  Two  sherds  of  inferior,  cord-marked  ware  and  an 
arrowhead  of  quart/.ite  came  from  this  mound. 

Mound  Number  4. — This  mound  was  2  feet  8  inches  high,  23  feet  in  diameter, 
the  central  10  feet  of  which  were  dug  out  by  us.  Neither  bone  nor  artifact  was 
encountered. 

Mound  Number  5. — Height,  2  feet;  diameter.  17  feet.  On  the  base  of  the 
mound  which  was  entirely  dug  away  by  us,  was  a  fireplace  on  which  was  a  small 
fragment  of  skull,  black,  but  whether  through  the  agency  of  fire  or  stained  by  char 
coal  was  not  apparent. 

Mound  Number  6. — This  mound  was  1  foot  3  inches  high,  and  17  feet  in 
diameter.  A  central  portion  12  feet  across  was  investigated.  Somewhat  to  the 
east  of  the  center  were  remains  of  a  skull ;  some  distance  to  the  west  were  frag 
ments  of  bone.  A  few  pebbles  and  small  masses  of  rock,  somewhat  chipped,  came 
from  this  mound. 


\  <^K  Chowder  Springs  -  one  v«ss«lo|  AQrtHen 


s  Ldg-tc mounds 
-  31  mounds 


MAP  Of  TOMB!GBEER1V[R  FROM  COLUMBUS, 
SHOWING  DISTINCTIVE  AREAS 

Sccie  in  miles 


278       CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS,  LOWER  TOMBIGBEE  RIVER. 

Mound  Number  7. — Height,  15  inches;  diameter,  20  feet.  The  central  part 
of  this  mound,  12  feet  in  diameter,  was  excavated.  Fourteen  inches  down  were 
fragments  of  long-bones,  parallel.  At  the  same  level,  somewhat  to  the  west,  were 
parts  of  a  skull. 

The  next  landing  above  Reinbert's  is  Bickley's,  where  our  former  work  on  the 
Tombigbee  ended.  The  river,  therefore,  has  been  covered  by  us  from  Columbus, 
Miss.,  to  its  junction  with  the  Alabama  river. 

The  Tombigbee  river1  from  its  junction  with  the  Alabama  to  Columbus,  Mis 
sissippi,  practically  the  head  of  navigation,  334  miles  above,  by  water,  while  it 
yielded  to  our  search  but  few  artifacts  and  but  little  new  in  the  way  of  data,  is  of 
interest  on  account  of  the  comparatively  sharp  limits  confining  the  practice  of  cer 
tain  aboriginal  customs  along  its  course.  Reali/.ing  that  later  investigation  by 
others  may  modify  conclusions  based  on  our  work,  we  shall,  with  the  help  of  the 
accompanying  map,  outline  these  areas  as  noted  by  us. 

At  Hooks'  Plantation,  17  miles  above  the  junction  of  the  Tombigbee  and 
Alabama  rivers,  and  at  Three  Rivers  Landing,  20  miles  above  the  junction,  the 
character  of  some  artifacts  found  shows  European  influence. 

At  Hooks'  Plantation,  at  Three  Rivers  Landing,  and  at  Games'  Landing,  27 
miles  above  Three  Rivers  Landing,  urn-burials  were  present  in  the  mounds.  In 
the  mound  near  Bashi  creek,  66  miles  farther  up  the  river,  however,  were  the  re 
mains  of  a  single  urn-burial. 

At  Payne's  Woodyard,  35  miles  above  the  junction,  at  Carney's  Bluff,  10 
miles  farther  up,  were  the  ''  rock  mounds." 

At  Payne's  Woodyard,  at  Carney's  Bluff,  in  the  mound  in  Kimbell's  Field,  10 
miles  above  Carney's  Bluff,  entire  vessels  of  earthenware  had  been  placed  in  the 
mounds  as  offerings  to  the  dead.  I!'  we  exclude  urn-burials,  a  different  custom 
entirely,  no  other  votive  offerings  of  vessels  of  earthenware  were  met  with  by  us 
on  the  whole  river,  with  the  exception  of  one  small  vessel  of  inferior  ware  found 
just  below  Columbus,  Miss. 

At  Beaver  creek,  139  miles  above  the  junction,  and  again  north  of  Beaver 
creek  ;  at  Breckenridge  Landing,  5  miles  above  Beaver  creek  ;  at  Rembert's  Landing, 
11  miles  farther  up  the  river;  and  at  Bickley's  Landing,  one  mile  above  Rembert's, 
were  found  numerous  small  mounds  grouped  together.  These  localities  are  all  on 
the  eastern  side  of  the  river  and  are  within  an  area  having  a  diameter  of  six  miles. 

At  Bryan's  Burn,  159  miles  above  the  junction,  the  region  of  the  great  domi 
ciliary  mounds  begins  and  continues  northward  as  far  as  our  investigations  went. 
Opposite  Peavey's  Landing,  however,  88  miles  below  Bryan's  Burn,  is  a  domiciliary 
mound  of  a  size  entitling  it  to  rank  among  the  great  ones  of  the  upper  river. 

1  In  gumming  up  we  shall  include,  also,  that  part  of  the  river  investigated  by  us  in  1901.  All 
distances  given  are  measured  miles,  following  the  course  of  the  river. 


MAP  OF  MOBILE  BAY  AND  PART  OF  MISSISSIPPI  SOUND 


.'sVYnorf  cr) 


Reduced  from  Government  Charts  Noi.188,189.190 
Scale  in  m.lts 


CERTAIN  ABORIGINAL  REMAINS  ON   MOBILE  BAY  AND  ON 

MISSISSIPPI  SOUND. 

BY  CLARENCE  B.  MOOKE. 

Mobile  bay,  about  forty  miles  in  length  and  twenty-three  miles  across  at  its 
broadest  part,  is  almost  surrounded  by  Baldwin  and  Mobile  counties,  in  the  State  of 
Alabama.  An  opening  at  the  south  connects  the  bay  with  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

As  shown  on  the  accompanying  map.  Mississippi  sound  extends  to  the  west 
ward  of  Mobile  bay.  bordering  part  of  Alabama  and  Mississippi.  Its  length  is 
about  eighty  miles ;  its  width,  from  five  to  twelve  miles. 

Mr.  J.  S.  Raybon,  captain  of  our  steamer,  who  is  very  familiar  with  mounds 
and  persistent  in  locating  them,  with  a  companion  searched  the  shores  of  Mobile 
bay,  with  the  exception  of  the  western  side,  and  carefully  traversed  the  territory 
bordering  Mississippi  sound,  in  advance  of  our  visit.  After  our  arrival,  the  western 
coast  of  Mobile  bay  was  examined  by  us  in  the  endeavor  to  locate  mounds. 


280  CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS.  MOBILE    BAY. 

In  this  report  is  given  the  result  of  our  work  in  1905  on  Mobile  bay,  which  is 
meager,  and  the  outcome  of  our  search  along  Mississippi  sound  as  far  as  Biloxi. 
Miss,  which  is  purely  negative.  At  Biloxi,  somewhat  more  than  half  the  length 
of  the  sound  having  been  covered,  our  work  was  abandoned,  as  our  agent  reported 
no  mounds  of  importance  beyond,  and  because  our  work  on  the  sound  had  been  so 
discouraging. 

The  warm  thanks  of  the  Academy  are  tendered  to  owners  of  mounds  and  of 
sites  around  Mobile  bay  and  along  Mississippi  sound  for  courteous  permission  to  con 
duct  investigations  on  their  properties. 

MOUNDS  AND  SITES  INVESTIGATED  ox  MOBILE  BAY. 

Mounds  on  Simpson  Island,  Baldwin  county,  Alabama  (3). 

Shell  deposit  at  Blakeley,  Baldwin  County. 

Mound  near  Starke's  wharf,  Baldwin  County. 

Shell  mound  near  Fish  river,  Baldwin  County. 

Shell  ridge  near  Bon  Secours  river,  Baldwin  County. 

Mounds  on  Seymour's  bluff,  Baldwin  County  (7). 

Shell  bank,  Strong's  bayou,  Baldwin  County. 


Mound  on  Bottle  creek,  Baldwin  County. 

MOUNDS  AND  SITES  INVESTIGATED  ON  MISSISSIPPI  SOUND. 

Shell  deposit  on  Dauphin  island,  Mobile  county,  Alabama. 

Mounds  near  Coden  bayou.  Mobile  County  (4). 

Mounds  near  Bayou  Batre,  Mobile  County  (2). 

Mound  near  Mary  Walker  bayou,  Jackson  county,  Mississippi. 

Mounds  near  (Iraveline  bayou,  Jackson  County  (7). 

Mounds  near  Belle  Fontaine  point,  Jackson  County  (2). 

Mound  on  Tchu  la  Cabawfa  river,  Harrison  County,  Mississippi. 


MOUNDS  AND  SITES  INVESTIGATED  ON  MOBILE  BAY. 

MOUNDS  ON  SIMPSON  ISLAND.  BALDWIN  COUNTY,  ALABAMA. 

Simpson  island,  the  southern  extremity  of  which  is  about  three  miles  in  a 
northeasterly  direction  from  Mobile,  is  about  18  miles  in  length.  It  is  one  of  a 
number  of  islands  to  the  north  of  Mobile  bay.  Its  western  boundaries  are  the 

»/ 

Mobile  and  Spanish  rivers;  its  eastern,  Lizard  creek  and  Tensas  river;  the  junction 
of  Mobile  river  and  Lizard  creek  forms  its  northern  boundary  ;  Raft  river  bounds 
it  on  the  south.  The  northern  portion  of  the  island  is  the  property  of  Mr.  Thomas 
M.  McMillan,  of  Mobile.  Alabama. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MOBILE    BAY.  2S1 

About  two  miles  from  the  northern  end  of  the  island,  on  the  western  side. 
about  75  yards  from  the  river's  bank,  in  dense  cane-brake  in  the  swamp,  is  a  sym 
metrical  mound  a  trifle  more  than  7  feet  in  height.  Its  circular  base  is  about  56 
feet  across. 

A  number  of  excavations  indicated  the  mound  to  be  composed  of  a  mixture  of 
swamp-mud  and  small  clam-shells  (Rang/a  cuneata).  No  indication  of  its  use  for 
burial  purposes  was  met  with,  and  presumably  its  character  was  domiciliary. 

About  one  mile  below  the  mound  just  described,  on  the  same  side  of  the  island, 
is  a  clearing  with  frame  houses  upon  it.  About  250  yards  in  a  southerly  direction 
from  the  houses,  on  the  cultivated  ground,  not  far  from  the  water  on  the  west  and 
contiguous  to  the  swamp  on  the  east,  was  a  mound,  circular  in  outline,  3  feet  in 
height  and  87  feet  in  basal  diameter. 

As  this  mound,  composed  of  a  large  percentage  of  shell  (Rattgia  cuneata) 
mixed  with  tenacious  muck,  is  regarded  as  a  stable  refuge  in  high  stages  of  the  river, 
its  demolition  was  considered  inadvisable.  Permission,  however,  was  granted  to  dig 
most  of  the  mound,  leaving  the  margin  undisturbed  and  solid  against  wash  of  water. 
Therefore,  a  central  portion  50  feet  in  diameter  was  dug  out  by  us  and  subsequently 
refilled. 

In  two  places,  at  least,  masses  of  lime  reduced  from  the  shell  by  fire,  were 
encountered.  Throughout  the  mound,  very  sparingly,  were  bones  of  lower  animals, 
including  teeth  of  alligators.  The  usual  dwelling-site  material  was  present,  in 
cluding  hones  of  ferruginous  sandstone,  pebbles,  pebble-hammers,  smooth  ing-stones, 
a  pebble  roughly  chipped  to  a  cutting  edge  at  each  end,  and  a  tine  of  stag-horn 
sharpened  at  the  end,  like  a  narrow  chisel. 

Fragments  of  earthenware  were  not  markedly  numerous.  The  ware  graded 
from  inferior  to  excellent,  some  shell-tempered,  some  not.  Decoration,  when  present, 
was  incised,  or  the  small  check-stamp,  or  showed  curved  imprints  as  if  made  by  a 
finger-nail  or  a  section  of  a  reed.  The  head  of  a  frog  and  the  head  of  a  duck,  orna 
ments  from  earthenware  vessels,  were  met  with,  as  were  several  loop-shaped  handles. 

Human  remains,  all  badly  decayed,  were  abundant.  No  cranium  was  recovered 
in  condition  to  preserve,  though  in  several  instances  frontal  parts  showed  no  mark 
of  compression.  No  burial  lay  deeper  than  18  inches,  while  many  were  nearer  the 
surface.  In  many  cases  were  found  bones  thrown  carelessly  together  as  if  from  re 
cent  disturbance  ;  but  owing  to  the  dark  material  from  which  the  mound  was  made. 
being  the  same  as  that  on  the  surface,  it  was  impossible  to  say  if  recent  digging  had 
been  done  or  not,  the  usual  evidence.  i.  e.,  material  of  a  different  color  let  into  the 
mound,  being  absent  in  this  case. 

Many  fragments  of  human  remains,  having  the  appearance  of  aboriginal  dis 
turbances,  lay  scattered  through  the  mound,  and.  in  addition,  near  a  number  of 
skeletons,  were  disconnected  bones  having  no  relation  to  them. 

Excluding  these  disturbances  of  bones,  aboriginal  or  otherwise,  there  were 
present,  in  the  portion  of  the  mound  dug  by  us,  twenty-nine  burials,  as  follows  : 

36  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XIII. 


282 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MOBILE    BAY. 


Bunched  burials — 15. 

Skeletons  at  full  length  on  the  back — 4. 

Skeletons  at  full  length,  face  down — 3. 

Burials  to  be  described  particularly — 7. 

One  skeleton  lay  face  downward  as  far  as  the  knees,  the  legs  being  drawn  back 
against  the  thighs. 

In  a  little  pile  were  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  bones  of  a  child,  including  the 
skull. 

Two  burials  were  lone  skulls  in  fragments. 

One  skeleton  lay  partly  Hexed  on  the  back,  the  knees  upturned  and  directed 
toward  the  left. 

The  skeleton  of  an  infant  lay  alone. 

»/ 

Near  the  northeastern  margin  of  the  mound  lay  the  skeleton  of  an  adult,  on 
its  back,  with  head  to  the  east,  the  skull  turned  slightly  to  one  side.  Completely 
covering  the  skull,  the  rim  resting  on  some  of  the  cervical  vertebra\  was  an  inverted, 
imperforate  bowl,  the  base  but  8  inches  from  the  surface.  This  bowl  (Fig.  1),  of 
solid  ware,  having  a  maximum  diameter  of  11.75  and  a  height  of  3.75  inches,  bears 
an  interesting,  incised  decoration  consisting  of  a  variety  of  symbols,  a  portion  of 
which,  representative  of  all,  is  shown  diagrammatically  in  Fig.  2. 


FIG.  1.  —  Bowl  found  turned  over  skull.     Mound  on  Simpson  Island.     (Diameter  11.75  indies.) 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MOBILE    BAY. 


283 


This  burial,  which  may  be  called  a  kind  of  urn-burial,  occurring  in  Alabama, 
is  of  considerable  interest  inasmuch  as  this  form  of  urn-burial,  namely  an  entire 
skeleton,  the  skull  belonging  to  which  is  covered  by  an  inverted  bowl,  has  not  been 
described,  to  our  knowledge,  as  met  with  farther  eastward  than  Ari/ona  and  New 
Mexico.1  Along  the  northwestern  Florida  coast  we  found  urn-burials  where  isolated 
skulls  or  skulls  with  a  few  scattered  bones,  were  covered  bv  large  bowls  inverted 
over  them,  but  this  form  of  urn-burial  is  different  from  that  found  on  Simpson 
island.  The  burial  here  detailed  is  the  only  one  of  the  kind  we  have  met  with, 
with  the  exception  of  one,  somewhat  resembling  it.  found  by  us  in  a  mound  near 
Three  Rivers  Landing,  Tombigbee  river,  Alabama.2 


FIG.  2. — Decoration  on  vessel  from  Simpson  Island.     (About  half  size.) 

Certain  bunched  burials  in  this  mound  were  noteworthy  as  showing  careful 
arrangement.  One  was  made  up  of  the  bones  of  an  adult  and  those  of  a  child,  in 
cluding  the  skulls.  One  consisted  of  a  considerable  bunch  of  long-bones,  all  parallel, 
but  without  skulls.  Another  was  composed  of  two  series  of  long-bones  carefully 
arranged,  the  upper  at  right  angles  to  the  lower.  On  the  bunch  last  mentioned 
were  two  skulls. 

No  bunched  burial  had  more  than  two  skulls,  with  one  exception.  A  central 
bunch  or  layer,  8  feet  long,  14  to  22  inches  in  breadth,  was  made  up  mostly  of  long- 
bones,  not  thrown  in  promiscuously  but  carefully  piled,  among  which  were  femurs 
representing  ten  individuals.  With  this  hunch  were  five  crania. 

Below  the  knee  of  the  skeleton  of  an  adult  was  a  discoidal  stone,  3.25  inches 

1  Clarence  B.  Moore,  "Aboriginal  Urn-burial  in  the  United  States,"  American  Anthropologist, 
Oct.-Dec.,  1904. 

-  "Certain  Aboriginal  Remains  of  the  Lower  Tombigbee  River,"  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila., 
Vol.  XIII,  p.  251. 


284  CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS.  MOBILE    BAY. 

in  diameter,  rather  roughly  made,  the  only  artifact,  with  the  exception  of  the  bowl, 
that  was  found  with  human  remains  in  this  mound. 

About  one  hundred  paces  through  the  swamp  in  a  SSE.  direction  from  the 
mound  just  described,  is  a  mound  of  irregular  outline,  with  basal  diameters  of  121 
feet  and  150  feet.  Its  height  is  3.5  feet.  Eighteen  excavations  made  by  us,  each 
3  feet  square  at  the  opening,  showed  the  mound  to  be  mainly  of  the  same  material 
as  its  neighbor,  though  one  excavation  yielded  shell  alone.  At  one  point  a  skeleton, 
lying  at  full  length  on  its  back,  was  found. 

In  the  Smithsonian  Report  for  1S781  au  account  is  given  of  the  finding  of  an 
urn-burial  in  a  shell  deposit  on  Simpson  island,  but  the  exact  location  of  the  deposit 
is  not  specified.  Two  shell  deposits  on  the  southern  part  of  this  island  were  visited 
by  us,  one  on  Raft  river,  the  other  on  Grand  bay.  These  deposits  seemed  general 
over  the  surface,  no  defined  heaps  being  noted.  The  discovery  of  burials  in  such 
localities,  where  the  area  is  too  great  for  systematic  investigation,  must  depend  on 
chance  alone. 

SHELL  DEPOSIT  AT  BLAKELEY,  BALDWIN  COUNTY. 

Blakeley,  a  small  settlement,  is  on  the  mainland  opposite  the  junction  of  the 
Tensas  and  Apalachee  rivers. 

About  one-quarter  mile  in  a  southerly  direction  from  Blakeley,  bordering  the 
water  and  extending  back,  is  a  shell  deposit  a  number  of  acres  in  extent.  The 
exact  area  of  this  deposit  would  be  impossible  to  determine,  much  being  covered  by 
swamp-mud,  fallen  trees  in  the  swamp  holding  quantities  of  shell  among  their 
upturned  roots.  The  deposit,  made  up  of  small  clam-shells  (Rangia  cuneata)  with 
considerable  admixture  of  loam,  varies  much  in  height,  G  to  7  feet  probably  being 
the  maximum;  but  this  is  quite  exceptional  and  is  confined  to  several  small  areas. 
Considerable  shell  material  has  been  hauled  away,  leaving  human  bones,  here  and 
there,  upon  the  surface. 

Eleven  excavations,  each  3  feet  square,  and  from  2  to  3  feet  deep  (which  was 
about  the  height  of  that  part  of  the  deposit),  were  made  by  us  by  way  of  trial.  In 
some,  human  bones  were  encountered  ;  in  others,  not. 

In  one  hole,  not  far  from  the  surface,  were  parts  of  four  skulls,  and  other  scat 
tered  bones.  At  a  depth  of  16  inches  was  a  circular  deposit  of  fragments  of 
cremated,  human  bones,  10  inches  in  diameter,  4  inches  deep.  No  sign  of  fire 
marked  the  immediate  vicinity  of  this  deposit.  Just  above  the  bones  lay  a  tool 
with  a  blunt  point,  made  from  an  antler  of  a  deer,  showing  no  mark  of  fire.  Thirty- 
two  inches  from  the  cremated  remains,  in  the  same  hole,  at  about  the  same  level, 
was  a  mass  of  fragments  of  calcined  shell,  including,  however,  a  number  of  shells 
showing  no  trace  of  fire.  No  charcoal  was  present  with  this  deposit,  About  1  foot 
below  a  skeleton  which  lay  near  the  cremated  remains,  was  another  skeleton,  flexed 
on  the  left  side.  One  hand  resting  on  the  neck  was  in  contact  with  an  ornament  of 

'  Page  290. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MOBILE    BAY.  285 

sheet-copper  thut  had  imparted  a  green  color  to  some  of  the  bones  of  the  hand  and 
to  at  least  one  of  the  cervical  vertebrae.  This  ornament,  3  inches  long  l>y  1.5  inches 
wide,  is  corrugated  on  one  side  and  belongs  to  a  type  common  to  the  mound  at 
Crystal  river,  northwest  Florida;  the  larger  mound  at  Murphy  island,  St.  Johns 
river,  Florida,  and  other  localities.  With  the  copper  lay  two  mussel-shells.  One 
(Lampsilis  anodoiitoides]  shows  a  perforation  at  one  end  ;  the  other  was  broken  to 
fragments  in  digging.  Near  the  skull  of  the  skeleton  on  which  was  the  copper 
ornament  lay  an  isolated  calvarium. 

In  another  excavation  were  a  few  scattered  human  bones. 

In  a  third  hole  was  a  considerable  deposit  of  fragments  of  calcined  shell,  with 
out  charcoal  but  containing  also  unburnt  shells,  similar  to  the  deposit  described 
before.  On  this  material,  32  inches  from  the  surface,  lay  a  skeleton  tlexed  to  the 
left.  Near  this  skeleton,  but  about  8  inches  higher,  lay  another  skeleton,  flexed  on 
the  right  side.  In  another  part  of  the  same  hole  were  a  few  scattered  bones. 

These  were  the  only  trial-holes  that  yielded  human  remains. 

Comparatively  few  sherds  were  met  with  during  the  digging.  One  fragment, 
the  base  of  a  pot,  has  three  feet. 

It  was  determined  by  us  to  make  additional  excavations  near  that  part  of  the 
shell  deposit  where  the  three  trial-holes,  which  were  all  near  to  each  other,  had 
been  productive.  Seven  additional  holes,  therefore,  were  sunk,  live  being  6  feet 
square  each,  one  5  feet  square,  and  another  5  feet  by  10  feet.  Subsequently,  these 
excavations  were  greatly  enlarged  until  some  of  them  joined.  All  were  carried  to 
a  depth  of  more  than  4  feet,  seemingly  the  height  of  the  deposit  at  that  place, 
where  their  abandonment  was  necessary  as  water-level  had  been  reached.  Shell, 
however,  continued  down  an  undetermined  distance. 

Burials  were  found  almost  exclusively  in  two  adjacent  excavations  which,  sub 
sequently,  were  merged.  The  bones,  unusually  soft  for  those  that  have  been  rein 
forced  with  lime-salts  coming  from  shell,  were  in  no  case,  but  one.  more  than  2  feet 
8  inches  from  the  surface.  The  exception,  scattered  bones,  lay  at  a  depth  of  3  feet 
8  inches. 

Disconnected  bones,  and  aboriginal  disturbances  where,  apparently,  burials  had 
been  cut  through  in  making  other  graves,  were  met  with  in  a  number  of  instances. 
In  addition,  burials  were  encountered  as  follows  : 

Skeletons  closelv  flexed  on  the  risrht  side — 2. 

*••  O 

Skeletons  flexed  on  the  right  side — 4. 
Skeletons  closely  flexed  on  the  left- side — 2. 
Skeleton  flexed  on  the  left  side  (a  child) — 1. 

Skeletons  at  full  length  on  the  back,  including  two  infants  side  by  side — 4. 
Skeleton  at  full  length,  face  down — 1. 

Skeleton  at  full  length  on  back,  to  knees  which  were  bent  at  right  angles 
(child)— 1. 

Skeleton  closely  flexed,  the  trunk  chest  downward,  the  legs  to  the  left — 1. 
Young  infant,  at  full  length,  exact  position  not  determinate — 1. 
Certain  skeletons  given  above  deserve  particular  notice  : 


286  CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MOBILE    BAY. 

The  skeleton  of  an  adult,  at  full  length  on  the  hack,  had  three  slabs  of  ferru 
ginous  sandstone  around  the  skull.  Back  of  the  head,  on  edge,  was  a  slab  7  inches 
by  4  inches,  approximately,  and  1  inch  thick.  In  front  of  the  face  and  a  little 
under  it  was  a  slab  about  G  inches  square.  Another,  about  half  the  size  of  the 
foregoing,  lay  on  its  side  in  front  of  the  mouth.  Two  additional  slabs  lay  on  the 
thorax,  one  below  the  other,  and  another  lay  at  the  left  side  of  the  skeleton. 

A  skeleton  at  full  length,  face  down,  had  below  the  skull  a  small,  undecorated 
pot  of  inferior  ware,  with  a  basal  perforation,  and  around  the  cranium  three  slabs 
of  ferruginous  sandstone.  On  the  thorax  lay  an  additional  slab,  and  another  lay 
on  the  pelvis.  On  the  thighs  were  two  fragments  of  a  decorated  vessel  of  earthen 
ware,  shown  in  Fig.  3. 


FlO.  3.  —  Fragments  of  earthenware.     Shell  deposit  at  lilakeley.     (About  full  size.) 

In  two  or  three  other  instances,  burials  with  slabs,  similar  to  those  we  have 
described,  were  met  with.  In  one  case  a  stone  lay  over  a  skull ;  in  another  burial 
single  slabs  lay  under  the  skull,  on  the  thorax,  and  somewhat  under  the  left  side  of 
the  pelvis. 

An  arrowhead  or  knife,  of  chert  lay  on  the  chest  of  the  skeleton  of  an  infant. 

Apart  from  human  remains  were  a  rough  cutting  implement  of  quart/ite';  an 
arrowhead  or  knife  and  a  fragment  of  an  arrowhead,  of  the  same  material. 

But  few  bits  of  earthenware  were  encountered  during  these  excavations.  One, 
of  excellent  ware,  shows  ornamentation  with  red  paint.  One  base  of  a  vessel  has 
three  feet;  two  have  four  feet  each.  So  far  as  noted  by  us,  no  ware  in  this  deposit 
was  shell-tempered. 

Though  care  was  taken  to  observe,  it  was  impossible,  so  far  as  our  experience 
went,  to  say  whether  the  burials  in  this  shell  deposit  were  made  from  the  present 
surface  or  during  the  growth  of  the  deposit.  The  uniformity  in  color  of  the  entire 
deposit  made  the  detection  of  intrusive  burials  impossible. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MOBILE    BAY.  287 

MOUND  XKAU  STAHKK'S  WnAur,  BALDWIN"  COUNTY. 

Starke's  wharf  is  on  the  northeastern  part  of  Mobile  bay. 

About  one-half  mile  in  a  X.  by  AV.  direction,  a  little  back  from  the  bay,  is  an 
abandoned  settlement.  Within  the  limits  of  this  settlement  was  a  mound  of  sand, 
5  feet  G  inches  in  height  and  about  64  feet  across  its  circular  base,  on  property  be 
longing  to  Mr.  George  II.  Hoyle,  of  Battle's.  Alabama. 

The  mound,  which  was  somewhat  spread,  had  undergone  previous  digging  to 
the  extent  of  a  narrow  but  deep  hole  in  the  center,  part  of  which  had  been  filled 
again.  The  mound  was  entirely  leveled  by  us. 

In  surface-material  were  two  glass  beads  and  a  bit  of  sheet-lead,  found  sep 
arately.  At  the  bottom  of  the  previous  excavation,  beneath  several  feet  of  sand, 
was  the  iron  blade  of  a  spade.  A  beginner,  misled  by  this  discovery,  might  readily 
assign  an  unduly  late  origin  to  the  mound. 

In  the  outer  part  of  the  mound  no  burials  were  met  with.  At  some  distance 
from  the  margin  lay  the  decaying  remnants  of  a  skull  with  a  hone  of  ferruginous 
sandstone.  There  is  an  outcropping  of  this  rock  on  the  shore  of  the  bay,  not  far 
from  the  mound. 

When  the  mound,  which  was  surrounded  by  diggers,  had  been  reduced  to 
diameters  of  28  and  37  feet,  various  burials  were  met  with  and  continued  to  be 
found  until  the  center  of  the  mound  was  reached. — one  at  18  inches,  some  at  2.5 
feet,  but  usually  from  3.5  to  5  feet,  from  the  surface.  Two  burials  lay  6  feet  down. 
All  bones  were  in  the  last  stage  of  decay,  being  mere  fragments  which  crumbled 
under  pressure.  Burials  were  as  follows: 

Lone  skulls — 10. 

Skull  with  two  fragments  of  femur — 1. 

Two  skulls  with  a  fragment  of  femur — 1. 

Skull  with  a  few  fragments  of  other  bone — 1. 

Bunched  burials,  three  with  one  skull,  one  with  two  skulls — 4. 

Two  femurs  together — 1. 

Two  tibia?  together — 1. 

Crumbling  fragments — 0. 

Comparatively  tew  artifacts  lay  with  the  burials.  With  a  few  fragments  of 
bone  was  mica,  to  which,  seemingly,  had  been  given  the  outline  of  a  spearhead. 

With  a  bunched  burial  were  a  bit  of  chert  and  a  triangular  fragment  of  pottery. 

A  lone  skull  had  with  it  mica,  ferruginous  sandstone,  and  yellow,  paint-like 
material,  probably  limonite. 

With  two  femurs  was  a  fragment  of  pottery  of  considerable  si/e.  and  in  several 
cases  in  this  mound,  in  the  same  way,  a  part  of  a  vessel  apparently  did  duty  for 
the  whole. 

Charcoal  was  associated  witli  a  number  of  burials.  Two  tibia1  lay  beneath  a 
layer  20  inches  wide.  27  inches  long,  and  I  to  2  inches  in  thickness. 

Singly,  and  apart  from  human  bones,  though  it  is  quite  possible  that  burials 
with  which  some  of  them  had  been  had  disappeared  through  decay,  were  one  ham- 


288 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MOBILE    BAY. 


mer-stone.  a  number  of  pebble-hammers,  pebbles,  a  small  bird-arrowhead  of  quart/, 
and  a  slab  of  ferruginous  sand-stone. 

Together,  with  no  burial  at  hand,  were  five  pebbles,  some  showing  use  as  ham 
mers,  and  man }•  small  fragments  of  an  undecorated  vessel. 

Another  deposit,  lying  alone,  consisted  of  one  pebble ;  a  rude  arrowhead  of 
quartzite ;  an  astragalus  of  a  deer ;  and  a  cutting  implement  of  soft,  clayey  stone, 
4.7  inches  long,  with  one  end  prepared  for  hafting  (Fig.  4). 

With  the  exception  of  the  fragments  to  which  refer 
ence  has  been  made,  no  earthenware  was  present  with 
burials  in  this  mound. 

About  15  inches  below  the  surface  was  a  smoking- 
pipe  of  inferior  earthenware,  undecorated,  with  the  excep 
tion  of  a  few  parallel  lines  on  the  margin  of  a  kind  of 
shoulder  extending  beyond  the  base  of  the  bowl.  On 
two  sides  of  the  rim  of  the  bowl,  and  on  one  side  of  the 
portion  intended  to  receive  the  stem,  small  parts  have 
been  chipped  away,  apparently  an  intentional  mutilation 
(Fig.  5). 


FIG.  4. — Implement  of  stone. 
Mound  near  Starke's  Wharf. 
(Length  4.7  inches.)  FIG.  5. — Pipe  of  earthenware.  Mound  near  Starke's  wharf.  (Height  2.25  inches.) 

In  fragments,  near  the  surface,  was  part  of  another  earthenware  pipe  of  an 
ordinary  type  and  of  inferior  ware. 

Five  feet  from  the  surface,  in  many  fragments,  was    an  undecorated  vessel 
which,  when  whole,  had  a  globular  body  with  a  short  neck. 

Throughout  the  mound  lay  a  limited  number  of  sherds,  some  of  rather  inferior 
ware,  others  of  excellent,  yellow  paste,  all  without  shell-tempering.  Decoration  on 
them  varied.  There  were  present  incised  designs  and  decoration  with  red  paint, 
and  the  two  in  combination  ;  also  incised  and  punctate  designs.  The  small  check- 
stamp  is  represented,  as  are  three  varieties  of  a  pattern  of  complicated  stamp- 
seemingly  rather  far  westward  for  this  kind  of  decoration.  One  of  these  com 
plicated  stamp  designs,  and  two  other  sherds  from  this  mound,  are  shown  in  Fig.  6. 

One  fragment  of  a  vessel,  part  of  a  base,  shows  a  mortuary  perforation. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MOBILE    BAY. 


2S9 


The  mound  nc;ir  Starke's  wharf  was  the  only  burial  mound  found  by  us  on 
Mobile  bay,  if  we  exclude  that  on  Simpson  island,  which,  properly  speaking,  is 
somewhat  north  of  the  bay. 


Inc 


Fid.  G.— Sherds.     Mound  near  Starke's  wharf. 
37  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHI  LA..   VOL.   XIII. 


290  CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MOBILE    BAY. 

SHELL  MOUND  NEAR  FISH  RIVER,  BALDWIN  COUNTY. 

On  the  bay,  about  one-half  mile  in  a  northerly  direction  from  the  northern 
point  of  the  entrance  into  Fish  river,  is  the  property  of  Mr.  William  V.  Street,  of 
Point  Clear,  Alabama.  Adjoining  the  house  is  a  shell  field  that  lias  been  under 
cultivation.  In  this  field  is  a  mound  composed  of  oyster-shells  with  a  slight  admix 
ture  of  small  clam-shells  (Rangia  cuneata]  and  black  loam. 

This  mound,  roughly  circular  in  outline,  about  3  feet  in  height  and  GO  feet 
across  the  base,  had  thirteen  holes  dug  into  it  by  us,  each  from  3  to  5  feet  in 
diameter  at  the  surface,  and  extending  to  the  base. 

No  human  remains  were  met  with. 

Broken  pottery  was  found  in  considerable  quantity,  all  shell-tempered,  though 
it  was  noted  that  the  finer  quality  of  ware  contained  shell  pounded  into  more 
minute  particles  than  that  in  the  coarser  variety.  The  decoration  is  incised,  in  the 
main,  consisting  chiefly  of  series  of  roughly  parallel,  encircling  lines.  Punctate 
decoration  is  present  on  some  fragments  of  coarser  ware,  and  a  combination  of  line 
and  cross-hatch  on  one  specimen  of  fine  paste.  The  small  check-stamp  is  repre 
sented  by  a  single  fragment.  Loop-handles  are  numerous. 

One  small  disc,  carefully  cut  from  a  fragment  of  earthenware,  came  from  the 
mound,  and  two  larger  ones  from  the  surface  of  the  surrounding  field. 

Similar  discs,  made  from  fragments  of  earthenware  vessels,  have  been  met  with 
in  numbers  in  various  regions  from  Canada1  to  Costa  Rica.2 

We  have  found  imperforate  earthenware  discs  of  this  kind  in  South  Carolina, 
in  Georgia,  and  in  Alabama,  but  not  in  peninsular  Florida,  where  the  discoidal 
stone  also  is  not  found.  These  discs  doubtless  were  used  in  some  game.  Mr.  Laid- 
law  savs  the  Crees  and  Salteaux  emplov  them  in  a  srame  similar  to  our  "  billv 

«/  J.«/  , 

button."  Hartman  saw  earthenware  discs  of  this  kind  in  use  among  the  children 
of  the  Pipiles  of  Salvador,  who  fastened  a  bunch  of  feathers  to  a  disc  and  throwing 
it  into  the  air.  .called  it  "  pigeon  "  or  '•  little  rooster." 

In  northwestern  Florida3  we  found  two  earthenware  discs  centrally  perforated, 
one  on  each  side  of  a  skull,  against  the  bone,  with  a  disc  of  sheet-copper  on  the 
outside  of  each  of  the  pottery  discs.  Cord  remaining  in  the  copper  discs  showed 
that  each  had  been  connected  with  one  of  the  earthenware  discs  and  that  the  cord, 
passing  through  the  lobe  of  the  ear  and  fastened  to  the  earthenware  disc,  which  was 
worn  behind  the  lobe  of  the  ear,  had  kept  the  copper  disc  in  place  in  front  of  the 
lobe.  Once  again,  in  middle  Florida,  we  found  two  similar  discs  of  earthenware  with 
fragments  of  sheet-copper.  Such  earthenware  discs,  utilized  to  economize  in  the 

1  G.  E.  Laidlaw,  "  The  Aboriginal  Remains  of  Bait-am  Lake,  Ontario,"  American  Antiquarian, 
March,  1897. 

2  C.  V.  Hartman,  "  Archaeological  Researches  in  Costa  Rica,"  Stockholm,  1901,  p.  33,  foot-note. 
See  also  Gerard  Fowke,  "Stone  Art,"  13th  An.  Rep.  Bur.  Am.  Ktlin.,  p.  109. 

W.  II.  Holmes,  "Aboriginal  Pottery  of  Eastern  United  States,"  20th  An.  Rep.  Bur.  Am.  Ethn., 
p.  43. 

Stewart  Culin,  "  Chess  and  Playing  Cards,"  Rept.  U.  S.  National  Museum  for  1896,  p.  709. 
'  "Certain  Aboriginal  Remains  of  the  NW.  Florida  Coast,"  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila., 
Vol.  XII,  p.  :«6. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MOBILE    BAY. 


291 


use  of  copper,  are,  of  necessity,  centrally  perforated  and   form   a  negligible  per 
centage  of  the  earthenware  discs  that  are  found. 

But  to  return  to  the  mound.  An  interesting 
elfigy  of  a  human  head,  of  earthenware,  originally  part 
of  a  vessel,  was  met  with  in  this  mound  (Fig.  7).  The 
nose,  broken  at  the  end,  has  been  carefully  smoothed 
at  the  place  of  fracture. 

A  flat  pebble,  neatly  rounded,  lay  among  the 
shells.  A  mass  of  ferruginous  sandstone  and  a  small 
disc  of  the  same  material  came  from  the  mound  ;  a 
larger  disc  of  the  same  material  was  found  on  the  sur 
face  of  the  field,  as  was  a  quartz  pebble  3.5  inches  in 
length,  to  which  a  cutting  edge  had  been  given  at  one 
end. 

SHELL    RllXJE    XEAK    Box    SECOUKS    RlVEH. 

BALDWIN  COUNTY. 

On  the  south  side  of  Bon  Secours  river,  about  1.0 
miles  up,  at  the  northeast  point  of  Oyster  bay.  behind 

Kl<;.  7.— Part  of  earthenware  vessel.         till1    dwelling  of    Mr.    W.    R.    SteillCl1,   Oil    wllOSe  property 
Shell    mound    near    Kish    river.         ...  .  ,  i       ^    • 

(About  full  size.)  it  is.  is  a  ridge  or  mound  ol  irregular  shape  and  vary 

ing  height,  extending  into  adjacent  fields. 

Eleven  excavations,  from  3  to  0  leet  in  diameter  at  the  opening,  were  carried 
to  the  base,  the  greatest  depth  being  4  feet.  The  ridge,  where  dug.  was  composed 
of  black,  sandy  loam  with  a  varying  percentage  of  oyster-shells,  among  which  were 
a  few  small  clam-shells.  Below  the  shells  was  a  layer  of  black,  loamy  sand,  free 
from  admixture  of  shell ;  and  beneath  this  was  yellow  sand,  the  original  surface. 

Fragmentary  human  remains  were  found  in  four  places,  none  at  a  depth  greater 
than  2  feet. 

Near  the  fragments  of  a  skull  was  a  shell  hair-pin  with  part  of  the  shank 
missing  through  an  early  fracture. 

Ten  cannon-bones  of  the  deer,  parallel  one  to  another,  lay  in  a  little  pile  about 
2.0  feet  from  the  surface. 

In  addition  to  several  pebbles  and  masses  of  ferruginous  sandstone,  two  lumps 
of  hematite  were  found,  very  bright  in  color,  ready  to  grind  for  paint. 

The  earthenware,  of  which  many  fragments  were  uncovered,  varies  greatly  in 
quality,  some  fragments  being  strong  and  bearing  a  considerable  polish.  The  ware 
is  shell-tempered  in  nearly  every  instance,  though  in  several  specimens  the  eye  fails 
to  detect  evidence  of  shell,  and  in  one  fragment  sand-tempering  is  plainly  visible. 
The  ware,  when  decorated,  hears  the  small  check-stamp;  incised  designs,  including 
part  of  the  human  hand;  punctate  markings;  and.  in  one  specimen,  raised  decora 
tion.  A  selection  of  sherds  from  this  place  is  shown  in  Fig.  8.  Two  small  discs. 


I'i<;.  H. — Sherds.     Shell  deposit  near  Bon  Secours  river. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MOBILE    BAY.  293 

made  from  fragments  of  earthenware  vessels,  were  found.  One  of  these,  shown 
with  the  sherds,  lias  a  perforation  near  the  center  from  which  five  radii  extend  on 
one  side  of  the  disc  and  six  on  the  other. 

MOUNDS  ON  SEYMOUR'S  BLUFF,  BALDWIN  COUNTY. 

Along  Seymour's  bluff,  which  is  near  the  southeastern  end  of  Mobile  bay.  near 
the  water,  are  seven  mounds  on  properties  of  Mr.  Owen  Roberts,  of  Mobile,  and 
Messrs.  William  D.  Todd  and  J.  W.  Nelson,  of  G usque,  a  nearby  settlement.  These 
mounds,  all  of  sand  more  or  less  blackened  with  organic  matter,  were  probably 
erected  for  domiciliary  purposes,  as  an  exhaustive  examination  of  one.  and  a  careful 
examination  of  five  others,  yielded  only  a  lew  animal  bones,  one  rude  arrowhead, 
and  some  fragments  of  earthenware. 

One  mound,  used  as  a  cemetery  in  recent  times,  was  only  casually  investigated 
by  us.  It  resembles  the  others  outwardly  and  probably  belongs  to  their  class. 

The  westernmost  mound,  to  which  the  principal  examination  was  given,  had  a 
height  of  5.5  feet  with  a  basal  diameter  of  120  leet.  Of  the  remaining  mounds, 
some  were  slightly  larger  than  this  one.  some  smaller. 

The  earthenware  from  these  mounds,  including  parts  of  shallow  platters,  when 
decorated,  bears  the  small  check-stamp  almost  exclusively,  though  in  one  instance 
the  head  of  a  duck,  in  relief,  is  present.  None  of  this  ware,  so  far  as  noted,  has 
an  admixture  of  shell. 

As  these  mounds  indicated  the  presence  of  a  considerable  population  in  early 
times,  special  attention  was  devoted  by  us  to  a  search  for  a  cemetery.  Much  of  the 
level  ground  nearby  was  carefully  sounded  with  iron  rods,  and  adjacent  woods  wore 
scoured  in  the  endeavor  to  locate  undulations  in  the  ground,  which  sometimes  mark 
the  presence  of  cemeteries.  Our  efforts  were  not  rewarded. 

SHELL  BANK,  STRONG'S  BAYOU,  BALDWIN  COUNTY. 

Going  westward  from  Seymour's  bluff  along  the  shore  of  the  bay  a  distance  of 
perhaps  1.5  miles,  shell  fields  are  encountered  with  deposits  of  shell,  increasing  in 
bulk  until  the  culmination  is  reached  on  the  shore  of  Strong's  bayou,  in  a  mass  of 
oyster-shells  known  as  Shell  Bank,  the  property  of  Mr.  J.  C.  Nelson,  of  Gasque. 
All  along  the  bay-side  the  wash  of  water  has  laid  bare  a  section  of  shell  deposit, 
which  was  carefully  examined  by  us.  No  human  bones  were  seen,  but  a  number 
of  fragments  of  pottery  lay  in  the  shell,  while  other  sherds,  some  water-worn,  were 
upon  the  shore.  If  the  small  check-stamp  is  represented  in  the  decoration  of  the 
earthenware  in  this  shell  deposit,  some  of  which  is  excellent  and  bears  incised  and 
punctate  markings,  as  shown  in  Fig.  9,  it  was  not  noted  by  us.  Only  shell-tempered 
ware  was  seen.  Here,  in  two  respects,  we  note  a  contrast  between  the  earthenware 
of  the  shell  deposit  and  that  of  the  neighboring  domiciliary  mounds  of  sand. 

Two  discoidal  stones  which,  no  doubt,  had  fallen  from  the  shell  bank,  lay  below 
it  on  the  beach. 


204 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   REMAINS.  MOBILE   BAY. 


Cedar  Point,  near  the  southwestern  extremity  of  Mobile  bay.  has  a  considerable 
shell  deposit  which  was  not  dug  into  by  us. 

We  were  unable  to  locate  any  aboriginal  remains  on  the  western  side  of  Mobile 
bay,  though  careful  inquiries  were  made  on  Fowl  river  and  on  Dog  river. 


FIG.  9. — Sherds.     Shell  deposit,  Strong's  bavou. 

MOU.VD  ox  BOTTI.K  CREEK.  BALDWIN  COUNTY,  ALA. 

\ 

This  locally-famous  mound,  considerably  north  of  Mobile  bay.  properly  cannot 
be  included  among  aboriginal  remains  of  that  bay;  but  as  it  should  not  be  passed 
without  notice,  a  description  of  it  will  be  given  here. 

The  mound,  on  property  of  Mr.  B.  F.  McMillan,  of  Stockton.  Alabama,  is  in 
a  cultivated  field  about  one-quarter  mile  from  the  western  bank  of  Bottle  creek,  at 
a  point  about  four  miles  up  stream.  Bottle  creek  connects  Middle  river  with 
Tensas  river. 

The  mound,  46.5  feet  in  height,  oblong  with  rounded  corners,  has  a  basal  length 
E.  by  N.  and  W.  by  S.  of  306  feet.  Its  width  is  251  feet.  The  summit  plateau  is 
100  feet  in  length  and  42  feet  wide.  Judging  from  the  shape  of  the  mound,  it  be 
longs  to  the  domiciliary  class,  and  this  belief'  was  strengthened  by  the  examination 
of  a  considerable  excavation  made  by  former  diggers  on  the  western  side  of  the 
mound.  So  far  as  this  digging  shows,  the  mound  is  of  clay.  No  excavation  was 
attempted  by  us. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS.  MISSISSIPPI    SOUND.        295 

Surrounding  the  mound  h:id  been  a  dwelling-site,  and  the  ploughed  surface 
showed  hammer-stones,  fragments  of  chert,  and  bits  of  pottery,  the  last  including 
a  bird-head  ornament  from  a  vessel.  0  inches  in  height. 

A  sprinkling  of  small  clam-shells  (Rangia  cuncata]  was  observable  over  the 
ground. 

Near  the  mound  and  in  the  swamp  were  circular  elevations  and  ridges,  all  of 
clay  with  the  exception  of  one  which  was  of  sand  and  clay.  Careful  examination 
showed  these  to  have  been  dwelling-sites  containing  the  usual  debris  and.  in  one  in 
stance,  a  toy-bowl  of  earthenware,  about  an  inch  in  diameter.  Within  the  sites 
and  on  the  surrounding  surface  was  fairly  good  earthenware,  some  of  the  fragments 
being  rather  rudely  decorated.  Nearly  all  were  shell-tempered,  though  in  one  in 
stance,  at  least,  the  tempering  was  of  coarse  sand.  One  of  the  well-known  earthen 
ware  discs,  cut  from  a  fragment  of  a  vessel  came  from  a  dwelling-site.  This  disc 
bears  what  may  have  been  an  interesting,  incised  decoration  made  after  the  excision 
of  the  disc,  but  unfortunately,  it  is  too  much  weathered  to  determine  the  character 
of  the  design. 

One  circular  elevation,  about  0  feet  high  and  100  feet  in  diameter,  had  near 
the  surface  a  Hexed  burial,  presumably  intrusive.  In  addition,  were  two  recent 
graves  with  skeletons  at  full  length,  near  which  were  iron  nails  and  fragments  of 
wooden  coftins. 


MOUNDS  AND  SITES  INVESTIGATED  ON  MISSISSIPPI  SOUND. 

SIIKI.].  DEPOSIT  ox  DAUIMIIX   ISLAND,  MOBILE  COUNTY.  ALABAMA. 

Dauphin  island,  part  of  which  is  bordered  by  Mobile  bay.  and  part  by  Missis 
sippi  sound,  of  which  it  is  the  southeastern  boundary,  is  mainly  a  narrow  strip  of 
bare  sand.  At  its  eastern  end  is  a  considerable  aboriginal  deposit  of  shells,  mainly 
of  the  oyster. 

Some  digging  by  us  yielded  fragments  of  earthenware,  some  shell-tempered, 
others  not.  The  ware,  when  decorated,  resembles  that  of  Mobile  bay.  Loop 
handles  and  effigies  of  heads  of  birds  are  present.  A  selection  of  sherds  from  this 
island  is  shown  in  Fig.  10. 

No  human  remains  were  found,  though  in  the  great  shell-heaps  of  this  place, 
burials  may  well  have  escaped  us. 

Morxns  XEAH  CODEX  BAYOU.  MOBILE  COUXTY. 

Coden  bayou,  a  part  of  Mississippi  sound  (where  work  was  begun  by  us  after 
leaving  Mobile  bay),  and  the  nearby  town  of  Coden  have  their  name  from  an  abbre 
viation  of  Coq  d^fndc.  "'  turkey."  the  former  name  of  the  bayou,  which  name  it 
still  bears  on  the  Government  chart. 

Four  small  mounds,  one  belonging  to  Mr.  Henry  Klass.  Jr..  of  Mobile,  three 
to  Mr.  E.  F.  Long,  of  Coden,  were  investigated  by  us  near  this  place  without 


290        CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS,  MISSISSIPPI    SOUND. 


FIG.  10. — Sherds.     Shell  deposit,  Dauphin  island. 

material  result,  no  human  remains  and  almost  no  pottery  being  found.  These 
mounds,  all  of  which  had  been  considerably  dug  into  previous  to  our  visit,  pre 
sumably  belong  to  the  domiciliary  class. 

MOUNDS    NEAR    BAYOU    BATHE,    MOBILE    COUNTY. 

About  one  mile  north  of  the  bayou,  on  the  western  side,  is  a  property  known 
as  the  Tate  place,  belonging  to  Messrs.  William  E.  (iordon  and  William  Vizard,  of 
Mobile.  On  this  property,  which  is  in  sight  from  the  water,  are  two  mounds,  one 
of  which,  of  clay,  6  feet  in  height  and  80  feet  across  its  circular  base,  had  under 
gone  much  digging  previous  to  our  visit.  A  careful  examination  of  this  mound 
yielded  no  human  remains  and  but  one  small  fragment  of  earthenware. 

Nearby  is  the  other,  a  somewhat  smaller  mound,  also  domiciliary. 

MOUND  NKAU  MAUY  WALKER  BAYOU,  JACKSON"  COUNTY,  MISSISSIPPI. 
Marv  Walker  bavou  enters  West  Pascagoula  river  not  far  from  the  sound.  On 
the  south  side  of  the  bayou,  near  its  mouth,  is  the  residence  of  Mr.  David  Saucier. 
About  100  yards  in  a  northwesterly  direction  from  the  house  is  a  mound  of  sand, 
of  circular  outline,  3.5  feet  in  height  and  56  feet  in  diameter  of  base.  A  thorough 
investigation  showed  this  mound  to  have  been  domiciliary  in  character. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   REMAINS,  MISSISSIPPI    SOUND.        297 

MOUNDS  NKAK  GKAVELIXE  BAYOU,  JACKSOX  COUNTY. 

Beginning  not  far  from  the  eastern  side  of  Graveline  bayou,  back  from  the 
blull'  that  overlooks  the  sound  at  this  place,  are  seven  mounds  of  sand,  all  within 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  bayou,  on  property  of  Mr.  J.  I.  Ford,  of  Scran  ton, 
Miss.  All  these  mounds  are  circular  in  outline  with  the  exception  of  the  largest, 
which  is  oblong  in  hori/ontal  section,  about  ('»  feet  in  height,  with  basal  diameters 
of  81  feet  north  and  south  and  93  feet  east  and  west,  the  sides  almost  corresponding 
to  the  cardinal  points  of  the  compass.  The  summit  plateau  of  this  oblong  mound 
is  38  feet  north  and  south  and  50  feet  east  and  west.  Each  of  the  seven  mounds 
was  carefully  examined  by  us  without  discovery  of  human  remains.  A  few  bits  of 
earthenware  were  met  with,  only  one  of  which  bears  decoration. 

MOUNDS  NEAR  BELLE  FOXTAINK  POIXT.  JACKSOX  COUXTY. 

About  two  miles  in  a  northwesterly  direction  from  Belle  Fontaine  point  are 
three  mounds  on  property  of  Mr.  S.  (!.  Ramsey,  of  Fort  Bayou,  Miss.  One  of  these 
mounds,  used  as  a  modern  place  of  burial,  was  not  investigated  by  us,  but  as  it  re 
sembles  the  other  two,  both  small,  which  investigation  showed  to  be  domiciliary, 
it  is  doubtless  of  the  same  kind. 

MOUND  ox  Tcnu  LA  CAHAWFA  RIVKK,  HARKISON  COUXTY,  Miss. 

This  mound,  said  to  be  on  land  the  ownership  of  which  has  reverted  to  the 
State,  is  about  six  miles  in  a  northerlv  direction  from  Biloxi.  though  much  farther 

*,' 

if  reached  by  water.  It  stands  about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  eastern  bank  of 
the  Tchu  la  Cabawfa  river,  and  about  one-half  mile  above  Hawley's  bluff,  which  is 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 

The  mound,  in  pine  woods,  is  of  clay ;  its  outline  rounded  but  irregular.  Its 
basal  diameters  are  450  feet  N.  and  S.  and  290  feet  E.  and  W.  Its  height  is  1 1 
feet,  though  if  measured  from  points  whence  material  for  its  building  has  been  taken, 
the  elevation  is  somewhat  greater. 

This  mound,  evidently  domiciliary,  was  dug  into  by  us  to  a  reasonable  extent, 
without  material  result,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  whether  superficial  burials 
had  been  made. 

As  our  ill-success  on  Mississippi  sound  had  been  so  uniform,  and  as  the  two 
agents  sent  by  us  in  advance  to  locate  mounds  had  failed  to  find  any  west  of  Biloxi, 
our  investigation  of  the  aboriginal  remains  of  the  sound  was  abandoned  at  that 
point,  as  we  have  said  in  our  introduction  to  this  report. 


3$  JOURX.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XIII. 


OUTLINE  MAP  OF  FLORIDA 

Showing   authors  explorations 

Scale  in  miles 
o      5      10  so 

1905 

Line  of  search    —  — 


MISCELLANEOUS  INVESTIGATION   IN  FLORIDA. 

1)V    Cl.AKKXCK    15.     MOOKK. 

Our  archaeological  exploration  in  Florida,  during  the  season  of  1!K)4,  was 
unsatisfactory  to  a  certain  extent;  but  as  it  has  ever  been  our  wish  to  let  no  inves 
tigation  of  ours  pass  unrecorded,  we  give  a  brief  description  of  the  season's  work. 


THE  KISSIMMEE  REGION. 

The  Kissimmee  river,  leaving  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  Tohopekaliga, 
on  which  is  the  town  of  Kissimmee,  flows  through  Cypress  Lake  and  Lake  Kissim 
mee,  and  continues  in  a  southerly  course  to  Lake  Okeechobee.  A  canal  connects 
the  southwestern  side  of  Lake  Okeechobee  with  Caloosahatchee  river,  which  empties 
into  San  Carlos  bay.  an  arm  of  the  Gull' of  Mexico.  These  geographic  features  are 

»/ 

shown  on  maps  of  Florida,  and  are  presented  on  the  outline  map  accompanying  this 
report,  which  shows  also  the  scope  of  all  our  archaeological  work  in  that  State. 

A  few  years  ago  it  was  possible,  by  the  aid  of  certain  canals,  to  make  a  jour 
ney  by  water,  in  a  steamer  of  light  draught,  from  Lake  Tohopekaliga  to  the  Gulf. 
Recently,  however,  the  canals  had  been  neglected,  and  an  extensive  growth  of  water- 
weeds,  miles  in  extent,  had  formed  in  Kissimmee  river  north  of  Lake  Okeechobee; 
in  addition,  a  heavy  dam1  had  been  built  across  Caloosahatchee  river,  somewhat 
south  of  the  lake.  It  was  impossible,  therefore,  at  the  time  of  this  exploration,  for 
us  to  take  our  large,  flat-bottomed  steamer  from  the  Gulf  coast,  where  she  lay.  into 
the  Kissimmee  region. 

Mr.  J.  S.  Ravbon.  captain  of  our  steamer,  an  expert  in  locating  mounds,  with 
a  companion  familiar  with  the  territory,  carefully  traversed  the  region  between 
Lakes  Tohopekaliga  and  Okeechobee,  inclusive.  The  report,  however,  was  dis 
couraging.  Nowhere  was  there  news  of  the  discovery  of  earthenware  vessels, 
and  such  few  objects  as  were  reported  to  have  been  found  by  the  inhabitants  were 
mainly  of  European  make,  and,  perhaps,  intrusive. 

Lake  Okeeehobee  was  reported  to  be  surrounded  by  marsh,  and  to  be  without 
mounds.  Nevertheless,  we  determined  to  explore  the  region,  if  possible,  and  for 
this  purpose  chartered  a  small  steamer  which  took  in  tow  a  Oat-boat  on  which 
quarters  had  been  built  for  the  use  of  our  colored  mound-diggers. 

After  investigation  of  the  mounds  of  Lake  Tohopekaliga,  which  was  practically 
without  positive  result,  as  the  appended  account  will  show,  a  severe  accident 
occurred  to  our  steam-boiler,  which  would  have  rendered  the  boat  useless  for  a  con 
siderable  time.  No  other  boat  being  available,  the  investigation  of  the  region  was 
therefore  abandoned. 

1  Si  nee  removed. 


300  MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 

MOUNDS  OF  LAKE  TOHOPEKALIGA,  OSCEOLA  COUNTY. 

MOUND    NEAR    KISSIMMEE. 

In  a  prairie,  near  the  lake-shore,  about  one  mile  in  a  SSW.  direction  from  the 
town  of  Kissimmee,  on  land  of  Mr.  Walter  Bass,  Sr.,  of  Kissimmee,  is  a  mound, 
circular  in  outline,  that  has  been  much  pawed  and  trampled  by  cattle.  Its  present 
height  and  diameter  of  base  are  3  feet  and  80  feet,  respectively.  It  is  built  of  sand, 
as  are  all  the  mounds  of  Lake  Tohopekaliga. 

Twelve  excavations,  each  about  3  feet  square,  extending  to  the  base  of  this 
mound,  resulted  in  the  finding  of  one  arrowhead  of  chert,  a  fragment  of  earthen 
ware  bearing  the  ubiquitous  small  check-stamp,  and  several  sherds  of  most  inferior 
ware,  each  about  .5  inch  in  thickness,  with  decoration  of  incised  lines.  No  human 
remains  were  found.  The  mound  was  doubtless  domiciliary. 

LANIER  MOUND. 

Situated  in  pine  woods,  about  6  miles  in  a  southerly  direction  from  the  town 
of  Kissimmee,  on  property  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Lanier,  living  near  by,  is  an  artificial  ridge 
of  white  sand  extending  almost  due  north  and  south.  This  ridge  is  250  feet  long 
and  90  feet  in  maximum  basal  breadth;  its  greatest  height  is  12  feet  3  inches. 
Previous  to  our  visit,  considerable  digging  had  been  done  in  this  mound  by  persons 
in  some  cases  known  to  the  owner.  No  discoveries  were  reported  by  these  persons. 

Although  the  Lanier  mound  had  every  appearance  of  having  been  constructed 
for  domiciliary  purposes,  and  the  lack  of  success  of  previous  diggers  tended  to  bear 
out  this  idea,  three  excavations  were  made  by  us,  each  10  feet  square  and  extend 
ing  to  the  base  of  the  mound.  One  of  these  was  in  the  southern  part,  where  the 
mound  reached  its  greatest  height;  another,  of  almost  equal  depth,  somewhat  more 
to  the  north,  and  the  third  toward  the  northern  extremity,  where  the  height  of  the 
mound  was  about  8  feet. 

In  one  excavation  no  relics  or  remains  were  encountered.  In  one  was  a  small 
deposit  of  charcoal,  and  three  bits  of  inferior,  undecorated  earthenware,  found 
separately. 

In  the  second  excavation,  at  a  depth  of  about  20  inches,  was  a  "celt,"  with 
fragments  of  a  human  pelvis  and  parts  of  a  femur  and  a  humerus.  About  3  feet 
distant,  at  the  same  level,  was  a  human  skull  without  the  lower  jaw. 

Two  and  one-half  feet  down,  in  the  same  excavation,  was  a  "celt,"  almost 
oblong  in  outline,  with  a  bit  of  shell  and  two  fragments  of  bone,  too  small  for 
identification. 

In  our  opinion  this  also  was  a  domiciliary  mound  and  the  "celts"  and  human 
remains  were  intrusive. 

MOUNDS  NEAR  BROWN'S  LANDING. 

Brown's  landing  is  about  one  mile  south  of  Edgewater,  on  the  southwestern 
shore  of  Lake  Tohopekaliga.  A  mound  is  situated  in  pine  woods  about  2  miles  in 
a  southwesterly  direction  from  the  landing,  in  sight  from  the  public  road,  on  prop- 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA.  301 

erty  of  Messrs.  H.  M.  PlUnn  &  Co.,  of  Campbell,  Flu.  It  is  circular  in  outline,  5 
feet  4  inches  in  height  and  Ii5  feet  across  the  base.  It  has  been  dug  into  to  so 
great  an  extent  that  after  slight  excavation  it  was  abandoned  by  us.  Various  frag 
ments  of  human  bones  were  met  with,  and  a  number  of  sherds  of  very  inferior 
ware,  all  undecorated  save  one  upon  which  was  a  certain  amount  of  red  pigment. 
In  addition,  a  single  bead  of  blue  glass,  about  the  si/.e  of  a  buckshot,  lay  alone  in 
the  sand. 

About  three-quarters  of  a  mile  southwest  of  the  mound  just  described,  in  open 
pine  woods,  in  full  view  from  the  public  road,  is  a  mound  of  white  sand,  9  feet  4 
inches  high  and  150  feet  across  the  circular  base.  This  mound,  which  had  every 
appearance  of  being  domiciliary,  was  dug  into  superficially  by  us  in  many  places, 
but  no  human  remains  or  artifacts  were  encountered. 

About  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  an  easterly  direction  from  the  mound  just 
described  is  another,  flat  and  irregular,  evidently  domiciliary. 

Between  these  two  mounds,  though  not  directly  connected  with  them,  are  two 
parallel  artificial  ridges,  about  300  yards  apart,  extending  about  NW.  and  SE.,  and 
estimated  to  be  from  3  to  5  feet  in  height.  One  is  200  yards,  the  other  300  yards, 
in  length,  approximately.  These  embankments  do  not  run  parallel  to  an  imaginary 
line  connecting  the  mounds,  but  cross  it  and  seem  to  terminate  in  two  small 
swamps. 

The  two  mounds  and  ridges  are  on  property  belonging  to  Messrs.  H.  M.  Pfann 
&  Co. 

MOUXD  NEAR  FRIER  COVE. 

This  mound,  on  property  of  Mr.  Stephen  C.  Partin,  of  St.  Cloud,  Fla.,  lies 
about  one  mile  in  a  southeasterly  direction  from  the  cove  near  the  SE.  end  of  the 
lake.  It  had  been  long  under  cultivation,  and.  in  consequence,  was  widely  spread 
by  the  plow.  Its  height,  at  the  time  of  our  investigation,  was  3  feet;  its  basal 
diameter,  83  feet.  It  was  pitted  and  trenched  in  all  directions  by  us,  but  yielded 
only  a  few,  small  fragments  of  human  bone  and  a  bit  of  undecorated  pottery. 

MOUND  NKAR  LEE'S  LANDING. 

Lee's  landing  is  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Tohopekaliga.  and  the  mound 
is  situated  about  half  a  mile  northwesterly  therefrom,  in  a  beautiful  orange  grove 
on  the  estate  of  Judge  George  F.  Parker,  of  Kissimmee.  Greatly  spread  by  years 
of  cultivation,  its  present  height  is  only  2  feet.  Its  diameter,  difficult  to  determine 
through  irregularity  of  outline,  may  be  considered  about  GO  feet. 

This  mound  was  carefully  excavated  by  us  in  parts  free  from  roots  of  orange 
trees.  Toward  the  center,  badly  decayed,  was  a  full-length  skeleton  on  its  back, 
and  a  second  skull,  without  mandible,  lying  near  the  pelvic  part.  Near  this  skull 
was  a  carefully-made  arrowhead  or  knife,  of  chert.  Nearby  were  a  crushed  skull, 
and  parts  of  two  skeletons  which,  seemingly,  had  been  mutilated  by  some  modern 
excavation.  No  earthenware  was  found. 


302  MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 

MOUND  NEAR  McCooi.'s  LANDING. 

MeCool's  landing  is  somewhat  north  of  Lee's  landing  on  the  eastern  lake  shore. 
The  mound,  on  hammock  land,  on  property  of  Mr.  W.  A.  McCool,  of  Beaver  Falls, 
Pa.,  is  about  half  a  mile  in  an  ESE.  direction  from  the  landing.  It  is  15  inches  in 
height  and  26  feet  in  diameter,  and  is  thickly  covered  with  small  oaks  and  scrub- 
palmetto.  Numerous  carefully-made  excavations  yielded  nothing. 

MOUND  NEAR  ST.  ELMO  LANDING. 

St.  Elmo  landing  is  near  the  NE.  extremity  of  the  lake.  The  mound,  on 
property  of  the  United  Land  Co..  of  Philadelphia,  is  about  one-quarter  mile  in  an 
easterly  direction  from  the  landing.  Its  height  is  3  feet,  its  diameter  75  feet. 

Twelve  excavations,  each  about  3  feet  square,  yielded  three  bits  of  undecorated 
pottery.  Presumably  the  mound  was  domiciliary  in  character. 

PEACE  CREEK  AND  CHARLOTTE  HARBOR. 

Leaving  the  Kissimmee  region,  we  transferred  our  crew  and  the  colored  diggers 
to  our  steamer  which  lay  at  Fort  Ogden,  on  Peace  creek  which  empties  into  Char 
lotte  Harbor  (see  outline  map). 

The  lower  part  of  Peace  creek,  previously  investigated  by  our  agents,  wras 
searched  by  us  without  discovering  aboriginal  mounds  worthy  of  extended  investi 
gation. 

Charlotte  Harbor  was  examined  a  second  time,  a  former  visit  having  been 
made  in  the  season  of  1900,  without  material  result.  A  number  of  reported 
mounds  turned  out  to  be  shell-heaps  only. 

MOUND  NEAR  HICKORY  BI.UFF,  DE  SOTO  COUNTY. 

The  remains  of  a  mound  near  Hickory  Bluff  yielded  to  us  only  a  few  frag 
ments  of  pottery  of  inferior  grade,  bearing  crude  line  and  punctate  decoration,  a 
selection  of  which  is  shown  in  Figs.  1,  2,  3. 

MOUND  IN  GASPARILLA  SOUND,  DE  SOTO  COUNTY. 

On  a  key  believed  to  be  nameless,  the  first  large  key  north  of  Boca  Grande 
Pass,  in  Gasparilla  sound,  were  the  remains  of  a  sand  burial  mound  almost  demol 
ished  by  treasure  seekers,  according  to  report.  A  small  remaining  part,  dug  down 
by  us.  contained  the  considerably  decayed  remains  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty  skele 
tons,  some  loosely,  some  closely,  flexed ;  but  these  burials  yielded  only  a  single 
skull  worthy  of  preservation  (Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  catalogue.  No.  2227). 

The  sole  artifacts  found  with  the  skeletons  were  three  shell  drinking-cups,— 
one  imperforate,  two  with  basal  mutilation,  with  one  burial;  arid  two  perforate 
ones  with  another  burial.  A  number  of  fragments  of  inferior,  undecorated  ware  lay 
where  former  diggers  had  left  them.  Twro  fragments  of  considerable  size,  found  by 
us,  have  rude  decoration,  and  on  one  is  a  loop-shaped  handle  (Figs.  4,  5).  Sand 
tinged  with  hematite  lay  in  various  parts  of  the  mound. 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


303 


Fin.  4. — Sherd.     Mound  in  Quparilla  Sound 
(Half  size.) 


KlGS.  1,  2,  3. — Sherds.     Mound  at  Hickory  liluff.     (Two-thirds  size.) 


Flci.  5. — Sherd.     Mound  in  (Tasparilla  Sound. 
(Half  size.) 


THE  SOUTHERN   FLORIDA  COAST. 

The  remainder  of  the  season  of  1904  was  devoted  to  exploration  of  the  coast 
of  southern  Florida  and  adjacent  islands.  We  had  explored  a  part  of  this  region 
in  the  season  of  1900,  when  we  investigated  from  a  point  north  of  Tampa  bay 
southward  to  Chatham  river  (see  outline  map).  A  report  of  this  work  is  given  in 
"Certain  Antiquities  of  the  Florida  West-Coast,"  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  of  Phila., 
Vol.  XI. 

This  season  (1904),  beginning  at  Charlotte  Harbor,  we  continued  southward 
through  Pine  Island  sound.  Estero  bay  and  along  the  (lulf  coast  to  the  island  of 
Marco,  next  to  the  northernmost  key  of  the  Ten  Thousand  islands.  From  Key 
Marco  our  course  lay  through  the  keys,  including  Chokoloskee  Key  and  Lossman's 
Key.  and  along  the  coast  to  Cape  Sable,  the  southern  boundary  of  the  Ten  Thous 
and  islands. 

Rounding  Cape  Sable  and   visiting   points   of  interest   on  the   mainland   and 


304  MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 

investigating  various  keys,  we  continued  eastward,  then  northward,  to  Miami;  to 
Fort  Lauderdale  on  New  river,  where  the  Everglades  were  visited  ;  and  finally,  to 
Lake  Worth,  which  was  the  southern  limit  of  our  work  during  the  season  of  1896. 
As  a  result  of  this  part  of  our  journey  of  the  season  oi'  1904,  we  formed  certain 
conclusions,  and  fortified  others  which  we  had  previously  expressed  in  print, 


(1)  That  while  the  shell  deposits  of  the  southwestern  coast  of  Florida  are  of 
great  interest  as  monuments  of  the  aborigines,  their  contents  offer  little  reward  to 
the  investigator.1 

(2)  That  the  sand  mounds  of  the  southern  Florida  coast  were  built  mainly  for 
domiciliary   purposes,  and   that  such   as  contain   burials   yield   but   little   pottery, 
whole  vessels  being  practically  absent. 

(3)  That  these  burial  mounds  contain  but  few  artifacts  of  interest2  and  that 
such  artifacts  as  are  met  with  in  the  smaller  ones,  and  superficially  in  the  larger 
ones,  are  often  of  European  origin,  marking  a  strong  contrast  with  the  mounds  of 
the  northwestern  Florida  coast  and  of  St.  John's  river. 

(4)  That  the  failure  of  the  aborigines  to  place  earthenwTare  with  the  dead,  in 
mounds  along  the  southern  Florida  coast,  did  not  arise  through  lack  of  its  posses 
sion,  but  rather  that  the  custom  of  doing  so  did  not  obtain  there.      Fragments  of 
earthenware,  though  fewer  in  number  and  of  far  inferior  quality  on  an  average  than 
in  central  and  northern  Florida,  are  met  with  along  the  southern  Florida  coast. 
Similarly,  alona;  the  whole  eastern  coast  of  Florida,  entire  vessels  seem  to  be  absent 

•/   ' 

from  the  mounds.3  though  inland,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  peninsula,  at  least, 
whole  vessels  are  fairly  abundant. 

(5)  That  while    the    muck,  i,  e.,  mud    and  organic    matter,  which    fills  the 
canals  and   small  artificial  harbors  of  the  Ten  Thousand  islands,  in  one  instance 
yielded  so  rich  a  reward  to  Mr.  Cushing's  labors,  it  seems  likely,  as  Mr.  Gushing 
believed,  that  the  objects  of  wood  found    by  him    at    the  town  of   Marco,  Key 
Marco,  were    present    there    through    some    particular  cause.     Certain  it  is  that 
extensive  digging  in  the  muck  by  Mr.   Gushing  and  by  ourselves  in  other  locali 
ties,    yielded    nothing    of   wood,    and    that    ditch-making    and    the    like    by    the 
inhabitants  of  the  Ten  Thousand  islands  have  brought  to  light,  so  far  as  we  can 
learn,  almost  nothing  of  that  material.      An    attempt    to    duplicate    a    discovery 
such  as  Mr.  Cushing's  would  resemble  a  search  for  a  needle  in  a  hay-stack. 

We  shall  now  describe  certain  work  in  detail. 

Incidentally  it  maybe  said  that  the  great  shell  deposit  on  Bullfrog  creek,  Tampa  Bay,  described 
and  figured  in  the  Smithsonian  Report  for  1879,  has  since  been  entirely  demolished  to  furnish  material 
for  streets  of  the  town  of  St.  Petersburg.  It  was  reported  that  in  the  removal  of  the  deposit  nothing 
of  interest  was  found. 

•'It  is  said  that  the  well-known  mound  at  Miami,  when  demolished,  yielded  nothing  except  human 
bones. 

3  "Mound  Investigation  on  the  East  Coast  of  Florida,"  by  Clarence  B.  Moore,  Phila.,  1896. 
Privately  printed. 

The  late  Andrew  E.  Douglass  spent  years  in  investigating  the  mounds  of  the  eastern  coast,  from 
St.  Augustine  in  the  north  to  Miami  in  the  south,  without  finding  an  entire  vessel. 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA.  305 

MOUND  ON  PINE  ISLAND,  LKK  COUNTY. 

Pine  Island  is  a  narrow  island  about  fifteen  miles  long,  just  south  of  Char 
lotte  Harbor. 

About  three  miles  below  the  northeastern  extremity  of  Pine  Island,  just  off 
shore,  is  a  key  '  about  three  acres  in  extent,  called  "Indian  Old  Field,"  which  is  an 
aboriginal  shell  deposit  with  a  shell  mound  upon  it. 

About  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  a  WN\V.  direction  from  the  shell  key. 
on  Pine  Island,  was  a  burial  mound  of  sand,  slightly  over  5  feet  in  height  and 
60  feet  across  the  base.  The  mound  was  away  from  the  solid  ground,  on  what 
is  known  as  a  sand-spit,  i.  e.,  territory  not  usually  covered  by  tides,  but  subject 
to  overflow  during  unusually  high  ones. — a  curious  spot  to  choose  for  a  place  of 
burial  when  solid  ground  was  so  near. 

Near  this  burial  mound  is  the  eastern  end  of  the  aboriginal  canal  that  extends 
across  Pine  Island,  a  distance  of  about  two  miles,  and  ends  at  the  huge  deposits  of 
shell  and  mounds  of  sand,  formerly  known  as  the  Battey  Place.8  but  now  called 
Pineland,  on  the  western  shore  of  the  island. 

The  mound,  then  on  property  of  the  late  J.  H.  Kreamer,  Esq..  of  Philadelphia, 
was  partly  investigated  by  us  in  the  winter  of  1900.3  During  this  investigation 
there  were  found  burials  at  thirty-eight  points,  loosely-flexed,  closely-flexed,  and 
several  masses  of  disconnected  bones;  also  aboriginal  disturbances. 

With  the  burials  were  three  ''celts"  of  iron  or  of  steel;  glass  beads,  in  three 
instances;  two  tubular  beads  of  sheet-silver,  with  overlapping  edges;  one  kite- 
shaped  pendant  of  thin  sheet-silver,  decorated  with  a  cross  repousse;  a  handsome 
lancehead  of  hornstone.  4  inches  long;  a  lancehead  of  chert;  two  arrowheads  of 
chalcedony;  a  tooth  of  a  fossil  shark,  with  a  perforation.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
excavation,  at  the  northeastern  side  of  the  mound,  were  many  fragments  of  pottery 
belonging  to  different  vessels,  placed  thickly  together;  also  several  shell  drinking- 
cups,  and  a  number  of  conch-shells  (Fulgur  perversum). 

In  the  winter  of  1904  the  mound  was  revisited  by  us  and  completely  exca 
vated,  with  the  kind  permission  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferdinand  Harrsen.  living  near 
by,  who  had  acquired  the  property  since  the  former  investigation. 

This  mound,  built  on  lime-rock,  was  of  gray  sand  except  near  the  base  where 
the  sand  was  black  through  admixture  of  organic  matter.  In  this  black  material, 
which  increased  in  thickness  from  a  few  inches  at  the  margin  to  about  eighteen 
inches  at  the  center,  lay  a  number  of  burials,  many  flexed,  some  to  the  left,  some 
to  the  right.  In  parts  of  the  base  was  what  seemed  to  be  an  inextricable  confusion 
of  burials  ;  and  the  badly  decayed  condition  of  the  bones  and  the  presence  of  water, 
at  times,  made  determination  of  the  form  of  burial  impossible.  Nevertheless,  it  was 
certain  that  among  the  burials  were  scattered  disconnected  bones,  sometimes  singly, 

1  Key,  from  Spanish  eai/o,  "  rock,"  "  shoal,"  "  island." 

-Described  by  Mr.  Frank  Hamilton  Gushing,  "Preliminary  Report  on  the  Exploration  of 
Ancient  Key  Dweller  Remains  on  the  Gulf  Coast  of  Florida,"  Proceedings  of  the  American  Philosophi 
cal  Society,  Philadelphia,  Vol.  XXXV,  No.  153,  p.  13  et  seq. 

3  Described  in  our  "Certain  Antiquities  of  the  Florida  West-Coast,"  Journ.  Acad.  Xat.  Sci.  of 
Phila.,  Vol.  XI,  p.  362  et  seq. 

39  JOUKX.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA..   VOL.  XIII. 


506 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


sometimes  in  masses.  In  other  parts  of  the  basal  area  of  the  mound  were  single 
flexed  burials,  as  well  as  bunched  burials  Avith  sometimes  a  single  skull  and  some 
times  several  crania.  There  were,  also,  two  closely-flexed  skeletons  in  graves 
below  the  base,  and  among  the  skeletons  at  the  base,  which  were  somewhat 
loosely  flexed  as  a  rule,  were  two  in  a  state  of  close  flexion.  In  the  bod}'  of 
the  mound,  but  showing  no  sign  of  being  intrusive,  were  two  flexed  burials  and 
many  bunched  burials. 

As  the  burials  were  numerous  in  this  mound,  and  often  encroached  one  upon 
another,  it  was  deemed  best  to  score  singly  such  burials  as  were  surely  flexed  and 
to  keep  a  tally  of  the  skulls  found  in  bunched  burials  and  where,  through  com 
mingling  of  interments,  it  was  impossible  to  say  just  what  the  form  of  burial  had 
been. 

There  were,  then  :  four  closely -flexed  burials  and  thirty-seven  burials  loosely 
flexed;  one  skeleton  with  the  lower  part  cut  off  by  an  aboriginal  grave.  In  addi 
tion.  177  skulls  were  found.  Thus,  during  our  second  investigation,  burials  repre 
senting  219  individuals  were  unearthed. 

The  bones,  as  a  rule,  showed  considerable  decay.  But  three  skulls  were  saved 
in  good  condition ;  these,  preserved  at  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Phila 
delphia,  are  numbered  2228,  2229  and  2230,  respectively. 

This  mound,  following  the  rule  among  mounds  of  southern  Florida,  where 
earthenware  plays  but  a  small  part  among  objects  placed  with  the  dead,  contained 
but  one  whole  vessel — a  rude,  undecorated  bowl,  about  7  inches  in  diameter,  imper- 
forate  as  to  the  base.  This  bowl,  seemingly,  was  not  associated  with  human 
remains. 

There  were  also  in  the  mound,  scattered  here  and  there,  various  sherds,  as 
well  as  parts  of  vessels  each  represented  by  three  or  four  fragments.  In  all  cases, 
save  one.  the  ware  is  inferior. 


FIG.  6.— Slierd.     Mound  on  Pine  Island.     (Half  size.) 


As  might  be  expected  in  earthenware  found  so  far  south  in  the  peninsula,  but 
little  decoration  is  present  on  the  pottery  from  this  mound.  Three  or  four  frag 
ments  of  one  vessel  show  a  roughly  executed,  incised  and  punctate  design  (Fig.  G). 
The  ubiquitous  small  check-stamp  was  three  times  encountered. 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


30' 


Via.  7. — Glass  cross.    Mound  on 
1'ine  Island.     (Full  size.) 


One  fragment  of  a  rim  showed  a  series  of  notches,  and  in  two  cases  the  loop- 
handle  decoration  was  met  with,  probably  from  a  vessel  or  vessels  similar  to  one 
shown  in  IMato  CX.  "  Twentieth  Annual  Report  of  the  Bureau  of  American 
Ethnology." 

With  the  burials  along  the  base  of  the  mound  no  implement  or  ornament  of 
European  origin  was  found,  but  a  slab  of  pine  wood  from  the  basal  part  of  the 
mound,  showed  a  clean  cut  which  could  have  been  made  only  with  an  axe  of  metal. 

Also  on  the  base  were  found  :  a  number  of  hammer- 
stones,  some  large  ;  a  bit  of  stone  worked  to  a  cutting  edge  : 
a  thin,  triangular  fragment  of  limestone,  above  a  burial, 
about  1.5  feet  in  length  as  to  its  sides ;  a  small  fossil  shark's 
tooth,  near  a  skull:  a  number  of  conch-shells  (Fulgur 
perversum};  drinking-cups  made  from  the  same  variety 
of  shell ;  one  Fulgur  with  ground  beak,  and  with  body- 
whorl  removed,  probably  used  as  a  chisel.  There  was 
"^  il»  implement  wrought  from  the  heavier  variety  of 
Fulgur  pcrversum,  with  part  of  the  body-whorl  removed 
and  a  hole  below  the  shoulder,  opposite  the  opening,  to 
allow  a  handle  to  pass  through  at  right  angles,  and  another 
hole  above  tin's  one  and  above  the  shoulder  to  facilitate  the 
lashing  of  the  handle.  That  part  of  the  shoulder  of  the 
shell  which  is  between  these  holes  is  greatly  worn  by  the 
material  used  for  attachment,  The  beak  is  much  ground 
and  splintered  by  use.  A  description  of  many  shells  used 
as  implements  by  aborigines  of  southern  Florida  is  given  in 
our  "  Antiquities  of  the  Florida  West-Coast." 
FIG.  8.— object  of  earthenware.  Also  at  the  base  of  the  mound  were  found:  a  large 

Mound  on  Pine  island.  ,Fuii     clam.sheli .   a  shell  identified   by   Dr.  II.  A.  Pilsbry  as  Col- 

lista  nimbosa,  lying  beneath  the  shoulder  of  a  skeleton  ; 

and  a  number  of  conchs.  wrought  to  a  certain  extent  but  not  sufficiently  to  show 
what  their  use  had  been.  These  conchs,  all  of  which  belong  to  the  more  delicate 
variety,  mav  have  been  drinking-cups  partly  completed. 

With  or  near  burials  in  the  body  of  the  mound  were  a  single  glass  bead,  a  con 
siderable  number  of  small  glass  beads,  one  large  hammer-stone,  and  one  sandstone 
hone. 

There  were  also,  variously  distributed  with  burials,  five  axes  of  the  type 
obtained  by  aborigines  from  early  white  traders;  three  pairs  of  scissors ;  two  broad 
chisels;  three  knives;  one  pruning  knife  ;  one  chisel  or  caulking-knife ;  one  imple 
ment  28  inches  long,  square  in  cross  section,  about  .75  of  an  inch  in  diameter, 
pointed  at  one  end.  This  implement,  of  iron  or  of  steel  (as  were  all  the  foregoing), 
presumably  intended  for  a  drill,  may  have  seen  service  as  a  spear,  when  hafted. 

1  "  Aboriginal  Pottery  of  Eastern  United  States,"  by  W.  H.  Holmes. 
'*  Journal  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  Vol.  XI. 


308 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


Three  beads  of  sheet-silver,  with  overlapping  edges,  somewhat  less  than  2 
inches,  1.25  inch,  and  1  inch,  in  length,  respectively,  came  from  various  parts  of 
the  mound,  with  or  near  burials,  as  did  part  of  a  glass  cross  (Fig.  7) ;  a  fragment  of 
au  earthenware  vessel,  about  1.5  inches  in  length,  verging  on  ovoid  in  outline  (Fig. 
8),  and  a  rude  though  interesting  pendant  of  glass,  showing  aboriginal  work  on 
European  material  (Fig.  9). 

With  a  burial  was  a  concavo-convex  pendant  of  thin  sheet- silver,  about  5 
inches  long,  with  two  holes  at  one  end  for  suspension  (Fig.  10). 


Vic,.  9.— Pendant  of  glass. 
Mound  on  Pine  Island. 
(Full  size.) 


FIG.  10. — Ornament  of  sheet-silver.     Mound  on  Pine  Island.     (Full  size.) 


We  have  here  a  good  example  of  a  mound  distinctly  post-Columbian,  contain 
ing  many  objects  as  to  the  European  provenance  of  which  no  doubt  can  be  enter 
tained. 

MOUND  NKAR  PUXTA  RASSA,  LEK  COUNTY. 

About  two  miles  in  a  northerly  direction  from  Punta  Rassa.  in  the  heart  of  a 
mangrove  swamp,  a  mound  was  reached  by  rowing  up  Shell  creek  a  short  distance, 
and  then  going  into  the  swamp  about  300  yards,  from  the  northern  side  of  the 
creek.  The  aid  of  a  guide  is  necessary.  The  mound,  which  was  kindly  placed  at 


FIGS.  11,  12,  13. — Sherds.     Mound  near  Punta  Rassa.     (About  full  size.) 

our  disposal  by  the  owner,  Mr.  George  R.  Shult/,,  of  Punta  Rassa,  is  of  pure,  white 
sand.  The  outline  of  the  base  is  circular,  save  at  one  place,  where  a  sort  of  Hat 
projection  extends  into  the  swamp.  The  mound  is  14  feet  G  inches  in  height.  If 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA.  309 

present  conditions  existed  when  the  mound  was  built,  the  sand  used  in  its  making 
must  have  been  carried  some  distance,  perhaps  from  the  creek,  as  the  black  muck 
of  the  swamp  surrounds  the  mound  on  every  side. 

The  basal  diameter  of  the  mound  is  hard  to  determine.  Either  much  sand  has 
washed  from  the  mound,  forming  a  deposit  at  its  base,  or  a  sort  of  platform  was 
built  to  serve  as  a  base.  The  diameter,  excluding  this  deposit  or  platform,  is  about 
90  feet. 

A  great  hole  had  been  dug  into  the  center  previous  to  our  visit. 

Throughout  the  surrounding  swamp  are  shell  fields  and  numerous  causeways 
of  shell,  extending  in  all  directions.  A  narrow  causeway,  with  steep  sides,  about 
90  yards  long,  leaving  the  northwestern  part  of  the  mound,  connects  it  with  a  large 
shell  field.  Another  causeway  extends  from  the  same  part  of  the  mound  at  a 
different  angle  toward  the  same  shell  deposit,  which,  however,  it  fails  to  join.  A 
third  causeway  leads  from  the  mound  toward  Shell  creek,  but  does  not  meet  it. 

A  considerable  amount  of  digging  by  us  yielded  7  flexed  burials,  from  1  foot 
to  5  feet  in  depth.  No  artifacts  lay  with 
them,  though  previous  diggers  report  the 
finding  of  many  glass  beads,  and  one  such 
bead  was  met  with  by  us  in  sand  previ 
ously  thrown  out, 

A  small  number  of  sherds  were  found, 
two  or  three  of  which  are  of  excellent  ware. 
Several  are  decorated  with  the  small 
check-stamp,  and  others  have  incised  and 
punctate  decoration  of  inferior  execution 

(FigS.   11,   12,   13,    14).  Kiu.  14.—  Shenl.    Mound  near  Punta  Rassa.    (Half  size.' 

MOUND   ISLAND,  ESTEKO  BAY,  LEE  COUNTY. 

This  interesting  key  known  as  Mound  Island,  described  in  a  former  report.1 
was  again  visited  by  us.  We  learned  from  Mrs.  F.  M.  Johnson  that  nothing  of 
importance  had  been  recovered  since  our  previous  visit,  either  from  the  shell 
deposits  or  from  the  famous  sand  mound  which  has  yielded  so  many  objects  of 
European  manufacture.  Mrs.  Johnson  kindly  had  saved  for  us  two  bird-head  deco 
rations  which  had  belonged  to  earthenware  vessels,  somewhat  similar,  though 
inferior,  to  those  described  in  our  former  report  as  coining  from  Goodland  Point. 
Key  Marco,  which  also  are  referred  to  by  Professor  Holmes.2 

MARCO,  KEY  MARCO,  LEE  COUNTY. 

The  Island  of  Marco  (see  outline  map),  otherwise  known  as  Key  Marco,  is, 
as  we  have  said,  next  to  the  northernmost  key  of  the  Ten  Thousand  islands,  a 
group  of  keys  bordering  the  southwestern  Florida  coast  for  a  distance  of  about 
70  miles  in  a  straight  line. 

1  "  Certain  Antiquities  of  the  Florida  West-Coast." 

-  "Aboriginal  Pottery  of  Eastern  United  States,"  W.  H.  Holmes,  20th  Annual  Report  of  the 
Bureau  of  American  Ethnology,  p.  128. 


310 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


The  town  of  Marco,  at  the  northern  end  of  the  island,  is,  as  previously 
mentioned,  where  Mr.  Gushing  made  his  great  collection  of  aboriginal  objects, 
mainly  of  wood.  These  objects,  as  the  reader  is  aware,  lay  in  muck  which  forms 
the  bottom  of  a  small  artificial  basin  in  the  shell  deposit,  formerly  connected  by 
a  short  canal  with  the  neighboring  water. 

It  is  needless  here  to  dwell  on  Mr.  Cushing's  archaeological  discoveries  at 
Marco,  the  most  important  that  have  been  made  in  Florida,  as  his  preliminary 
report,1  which  his  untimely  end  rendered  final,  gives  a  sufficiently  clear  description. 

There  is  one  point,  however,  which  archaeologists  would  gladly  know  :  How 
did  this  great  assemblage  of  objects  come  to  be  in  this  particular  spot?  Arti 
ficial  harbors,  basins  and  canals  abound  among  such  keys  of  the  Ten  Thousand 
islands  as  were  selected  by  the  pile-dwellers  as  places  of  residence,  yet,  as  we 
have  said,  no  collection  of  objects  has  been  met  with  elsewhere  in  the  muck, 
though  considerable  digging  has  been  done  by  explorers  and  by  modern  inhabi 
tants  of  the  keys. 

Objects  of  wood  dropped  or  thrown  ceremonially,  into  water,  would  float;  and 
it  is  hardly  likely  that,  at  periods  of  low  water,  objects  were  buried  ceremoniallv  in 
the  muck.  It  was  Mr.  Cushing's  belief,  personally  expressed  to  us,  that  the  objects 
found  bv  him.  contained  in  houses  or  in  a  temple  on  the  banks  of  the  court,  or 
basin,  had  been  forced  down  by  some  cataclysm  of  nature  and  subsequently  held 
in  the  muck.  This  would  seem  to  be  a  reasonable  explanation,  and 
especially  so  as  Mr.  W.  D.  Collier,  of  Marco,  through  whose  kind  per 
mission  the  basin  was  examined,  informs  us  that  in  the  year  1873  a 


FIG.  15. — Pendant  of  lime-rock. 
(Full  size.) 


Marco. 


FIG.  16. — Pendant  of  lime- 
rock.  Marco.  (Full  size.) 


FIG.  17. — Pendant  of  lime- 
rock.  Marco.  (Full  size.) 


FIG.  18.— Object  of  clay. 
Marco.     (Full  si/e.) 


tidal  wave,  brought  on  by  a  hurricane,  did  much  damage  at  Marco  and  submerged 
the  muck-pond  in  which  the  objects  were  found  by  Mr.  Gushing. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  might  be  asked,  if  buildings  were  thus  destroyed,  why. 
in  vie\v  of  the  preservative  qualities  of  the  muck,  the  debris  was  not  preserved  with 
the  objects  which  were  present.  On  the  whole,  the  question  is  an  interesting  one. 

A  careful  search  of  the  surface  of  the  shell  fields  of  Marco  resulted  in  the 
discovery  of  a  number  of  tools  wrought  from  entire  shells,  some  of  which  differ 
somewhat  from  those  described  and  figured  in  our  former  report  on  this  region. 
Varieties,  hitherto  undescribed,  from  Marco  ;  from  Goodland  Point,  Key  Marco ;  from 
Ghokoloskee  Key  and  from  other  localities,  will  be  given  at  the  close  of  this  report. 

1  Op.  cit. 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


311 


Flo.  19.— Pendant  of  shell. 
Nameless  Key  near  Key 

Marco.  (About  full  size.) 


FIG.  20.— Implement 

of  bone.  Nameless 
Key  near  Key  Mar 
co.  (About  full  size.) 


We  obtained  from    Mr.   Collier  a   collection  of  several  hundred   pendants   or 
charm-stones,"  of  shell,  of  coral,  and  of  the  coarse  lime-rock  found  upon  the  keys. 
Most  of  these  were  of  ordinary  type,  similar 
to  a  number  figured   by  us  in  our  preceding 
report. 

One  pendant  from  this  lot  of  surface- 
finds  from  Marco,  of  rather  compact,  yellow 
lime-rock,  representing  the  head  of  a  duck, 
is  shown  in  Fig.  1 5.  Two  pendants,  one  of 
yellow,  one  of  white,  lime-rock,  also  from 
Marco,  are  shown  in  Figs.  10,  17.  A  pyra 
midal  object  of  tenacious  clay  containing 
quart/  grains  and  fragments  of  shell,  molded 
and  dried,  from  the  same  collection,  is  given 
in  Fig.  IS. 

From  a  nameless  shell  key,  near  Marco, 
a  large  number  of  objects,  similar  in  the 
main  to  those  from  Marco,  were  obtained 
from  Mr.  Addison,  who  lives  on  the  key. 
One  of  these  specimens  is  a  pendant  of 
shell,  which  in  addition  to  the  groove  at 
one  end  for  suspension,  has  another  groove 
around  the  body,  the  use  of  which  is  uncer 
tain  (Fig.  19).  An  implement  of  bone,  from 
the  surface,  with  four  perforations,  is  shown 
in  Fig.  20. 

A  number  of  implements  wrought  from 
entire  shells  were  found  by  us  on  the  sur 
face  of  this  kev. 


GOODLAND  POINT.  KKY  MARCO. 

From  Goodland  point,  five  miles  below 
the  town  of  Marco,  where  many  objects  of 
interest  were  procured  on  our  previous  visit, 
we  obtained  a  limited  number  of  pendants, 
sinkers,  etc.,  of  stone,  of  shell,  of  coral,  and 
one  (Fig.  21)  made  from  a  fragment  of  an 
earthenware  vessel.  Many  implements 
wrought  from  entire  shells,  were  gathered 
by  us  from  the  surface  at  this  point. 

WIGGINS  KEY.  LEE  COUNTY. 

The  only  object  of  interest  obtained  by 
us  on  Wiggins  key  is  a  pendant  of  shell, 
having  a  perforation  in  addition  to  the  FIG.  22.— Pendant  of 

i    /TV        on*  shell.  Wiggins  Key. 

groove  at  one  end  (rig.  L2>).  (About  full  size.) 


FIG.  '21. — Pendant  of  earth 
enware.  Good  land  Point. 
(About  full  size.) 


312 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


CHOKOLOSKEE  KEY,  LEE  COUNTY. 

The  interesting  Chokoloskee  key,  described  in  our  previous  report,  has  been 
determined,  by  a  recent  survey,  to  be  in  Lee  count}',  and  not  in  Monroe  county,  as 
was  formerly  believed  to  be  the  case. 

A  search,  extending  over  a  number  of  days,  yielded  many  fine  implements 
wrought  from  entire  shells;  also  a  number  of  pendants,  etc.,  were  obtained  from 
persons  inhabiting  the  key.  Among 
these  was  a  carefully  wrought  pendant 
of  lime-rock  (Fig.  23),  presented  to  us  by 


FIG.  23.— Pendant  (if  lime- 
rock.  Chokoloskee  Key. 
( About  full  size.) 


fi*.    » 


Fi(i.  24.— Pendant  of  she] 
Chokoloskee  Key.  (About 
full  size.) 


Fio.  25. — Pendant  of  shell. 
Chokoloskee  Key.  (Full 
size.) 


'•m 


Doctor  Green,  postmaster  of  Chokoloskee,  and  two  pendants 
of  shell,  one  heart-shaped  (Fig.  24).  the  other  showing  a 
method  of  suspension  entirely  novel  in  our  experience  of 
objects  of  shell  (Fig.  25)  and  unusual  in  pendants  of  stone, 
consisting  of  a  perforation,  beginning  near  the  end  at  one  side, 
and  coming  out  at  the  top.  Another  fine  pendant  of  shell 
from  this  place  is  shown  in  Fig.  2(>. 

A  novel  object  from  this  key  is  an  oyster-shell  having  a 
central  perforation  and,  in  addition,  a  groove  at  one  end,  as 
shown  in  Fig.  27.  Presumably  a  handle,  passing  through  the 
hole,  was  lashed  to  the  shell  at  the  groove  to  form  a  tool.  A 
part  of  the  shell,  broken  from  the  edge  back,  lends  support  to 
this  supposition. 

At  our  former   visit  to  Chokoloskee   key  we  made   the 
acquaintance  of  Mr.  C.  G.  McKinney,  then  living  there.       Mr. 
McKinney  had  for  a  long  period  paid  close  attention  to  abori 
ginal  objects  found  upon  the  key.     We  were  informed  by  him  that,  of  the  very 
many  objects  known  as  "sinkers"  found  on  the  key,  none  had  been  met  with  near 
the  water,  and  that  he  was  firmly  convinced  that  these  so-called  "sinkers"  had  a 
use  other  than  one  pertaining  to  the  taking  of  fish. 


FIG.  26.— Pendant  of  shell. 
Chokoloskee  Key.  (Full 
size.) 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


313 


FIG.  27.— Implement  of  shell.     Chokoloskee  Key.     (Full  size.) 


FIG.  28. — Object  of  black  mangrove  wood. 
Chokoloskee  Key.     (Half  size.) 


Fl<;.  29.  —  The  same,  end  view. 

Ill  one  part  of  the  key  is  an  inter 
esting  artificial  harbor,  which,  no 
doubt,  served  as  a  shelter  for  canoes 
in  aboriginal  times.  This  harbor,  pro 
tected  from  open  water  by  an  embank 


FIG.  30.— Cup  of  wood.    Chokoloskee  Key.     (Full  size.)  llieilt      of     shell,      Save      at      a      narrow 


entrance,  was  on  property  owned  bv 

Mr.  McKiiiney,  who.  controlling  the  water  by  the  insertion  of  a  sluice,  dug  main- 
trenches  in  the  muck  with  the  idea  to  pile  this  material  above  water  level,  and 
thus  to  gain  a  rich  area  for  cultivation. 

In  the  course  of  this  work.  Mr.  Mc-Kinney.  whose  archaeological  interest  was 
ever  alert,  came  upon  three  objects  of  wood,  which  are  now  in  possession  of  the 
Academy. 

One  of  these,  of  black  mangrove,  shown  in   Figs.  28.  29,  was  burnt  somewhat 

40  JOURX.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA..  VOL.  XIII. 


314 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLOEIDA. 


on  one  side  by  a  person  to  whom  it  was  entrusted  by  Mr.  McKinney.  This  object, 
which  was  about  2  feet  down  in  the  muck,  became  cracked  superficially  in  drying, 
in  a  way  that  might  seem  to  represent  carving  in  the  figure.  It  has  a  central 
groove  surrounding  it  and  shows  work  of  a  blunt  tool  over  both  terminal  sur 
faces.  In  shape  the'  object  resembles  the  head  of  a  mace,  for  which  the  heavy 
mangrove  wood  would.be  especially  fitted;  but  in  the  case  of  a  mace  there 
would  be  no  cause  to  remove  the  handle.  Possibly  the  object  was  used  as  a 
sort  of  hammer,  with  one  end  blunt,  the  other  pointed,  and  was  fastened  at  a 
right  angle  to  a  handle  by  means  of  the  central  groove. 


FIG.  31.  —  Object  of  wood.     Chokoloskee  Key.     (Half  size.) 

A  cup  of  a  soft  wood  was  found  in  the  muck  by  Mr.  McKinney  (Fig.  30). 

Another  object,  in  two  parts,  also  of  a  soft  wood,  is  shown  photographed 
from  a  sketch  in  Fig.  31.  There  has  been  a  rude  decoration  in  black  pigment, 
still  discernible  in  places.  Holes  for  attachment  are  at  the  base.  The  purpose 
for  which  this  object  was  made  is  problematical. 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


315 


LOSSMAN'S  KEY,  MONROE  COUNTY. 

After  investigating  a  number  of  keys  which  yielded  nothing  of  interest  from 
an  arcluvological  point  of  view,  Lossman's  key,  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the 
largest  key  of  the  Ten  Thousand  islands,  was  visited.  At  the  northern  extremity 
are  large,  level  causeways  and  platforms,  of  shell,  a  thorough  survey  of  which 
would  be  of  interest. 

South  of  Cape  Sable  and  eastward  among  the  keys  and  northward  to  Lake 
Worth,  where  our  journey  ended,  we  met  with  nothing  of  especial  archaeological 
interest.  After  leaving  the  Ten  Thousand  islands,  no  shell  keys  were  met  with  by 
us  during  an  extended  search,  all  islands  being  of  sand  or  of  lime-rock. 

IMPLEMENTS  WROUGHT  FROM  ENTIRE  SHELLS. 

We  shall  now  describe  in  detail  certain  implements  of  shell  found  by  us  during 
the  expedition  of  1904,  which  differ  somewhat  from  implements  of  the  same  type 
described  in  our  report  on  '•  Certain  Antiquities  of  the  Florida  West-Coast." 


FIG.  32.— Shell  implement.     Russell's  Key.     (About  full  size.) 


FIG.  33.— Shell  implement.     Marco.     (About  full  size.) 


316 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


Fig.  32  represents  a  fractional  part  of  a  massive  Fulgur  perversum,  of  a  type 
similar  to  that  shown  in  Fig.  37  of  our  previous  report,  where  a  hole  to  the  right, 
and  a  notch  to  the  left,  of  the  axis,  enabled  a  handle  to  pass  behind  it.  In  this 
case,  however,  an  additional  perforation,  much  worn,  behind  the  axis,  is  present, 
and  probably  corresponded  with  a  hole  since  broken  away  through  use.  When 
this  happened,  presumably,  the  use  of  the  hole  back  of  the  axis  was  abandoned, 
and  a  new  hole  to  the  right  and  a  notch  to  the  left  were  added.  This  implement, 
which  was  found  on  Russell's  key,  Ten  Thousand  islands,  probably  served  as  a  hoe. 


FIG.  34.— Shell  implement.     Cutler.     (About  full  size.) 

In  Fig.  33  is  given  a  Fulgur  perversum  from  Marco,  showing  the  usual  removal 
of  part  of  the  body-whorl  back  from  the  edge  of  the  aperture.  There  is  a  small 
hole  above  the  shoulder,  or  periphery,  which  seerns,  as  a  rule,  to  have  had  no  con 
nection  with  the  tool,  inasmuch  as  numbers  of  shells,  not  made  into  implements, 
show  a  similar  perforation,  which  may  have  been  made  to  sever  the  muscle  and 
free  the  shell-fish  from  its  shell.  The  feature  of  this  particular  implement  is  two 
small,  circular  holes,  side  by  side,  in  the  back  of  the  shell. 


acing   the   notch   in 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


317 


front.     Possibly  as  one  hole  may  not  have  given  the  desired  angle  for  the  handle, 
another  hole  was  added. 

Fig.  34  illustrates  a  Fn/gur  perversum  from  Cutler,  on  the  mainland  of  the 
eastern  coast,  Dade  county.  It  shows  the  usual  removal  of  part  of  the  body-whorl 
at  the  edge  of  the  aperture,  hut  no  perforation  above  the  shoulder.  There  are  three 
perforations  almost  in  line  in  the  body-whorl,  and  a  notch  at  the  edge  of  the  aper 
ture.  It  would  seem  that  the  central  hole  which  faces  the  notch,  having  become 
broken,  was  abandoned  with  its  corresponding  notch,  and  that  two  new  holes  were 
made  for  attaching  the  handle. 


FIG.  35. — Shell  implement,     liattey  Place.     (About  full 


size.) 


The  implement  shown  in  Fig.  35,  wrought  from  a  comparatively  small  but 
heavy  shell  of  the  same  species  as  the  last,  is  of  an  ordinary  type  of  which,  in 
addition  to  the  removal  of  part  of  the  body-whorl,  at  the  edge  of  the  aperture, 
another  part  is  cut  away  within,  laying  bare  part  of  the  axis.  A  single  perforation 
in  the  body-whorl  faces  the  notch.  The  peculiarity  of  this  implement  is  the  pres 
ence  of  two  small  perforations  above  the  shoulder,  in  line,  one  on  each  side.  These 
perforations  are  smaller  and  more  regularly  made  than  the  single  ones  of  which  we 


318 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


have  spoken  as  made,  possibly,  to  free  the  shell-fish  from  the  shell.  Moreover, 
there  are  two  holes  instead  of  one.  One.  above  the  main  hole  in  the  body-whorl, 
could  have  aided  in  attaching  the  handle,  but  the  other  hole  is  shut  off  from  the 
handle  by  the  convolution  of  the  shell.  This  implement  is  from  the  Battey  place, 
Pine  island,  Lee  county. 


•• 


, 


FIG.  36. —Shell  implement.     Chokoloskee  Key.     (About  full  size.) 

We  come  next  to  a  Fulgur  pervcrsum  from  Chokoloskee  key,  shown  in  Fig.  36, 
which  has  the  usual  removal  of  part  of  the  body-whorl.  There  is  but  one  perfora 
tion,  which  is  to  the  right  of  the  aperture.  This  hole,  which  shows  no  wear,  can 
not  have  been  used  for  the  insertion  of  a  handle,  as  there  is  no  corresponding  hole 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


319 


on  the  opposite  side,  and  no  notch.  Moreover,  the  hole  is  not  in  line  with  the 
required  position  for  a  notch.  The  cutting  edge  of  the  beak,  however,  shows  con 
siderable  wear.  Presumably,  this  implement  was  held  directly  in  the  hand. 

The  implement  shown  in  Fig.  37,  a  heavy  Fulgur perversum,  with  part  of  the 
body-whorl  removed,  and  a  small,  irregular  hole  above  the  shoulder  has  four  per 
forations  in  line  in  the  remaining  part  of  the  body-whorl,  extending  from  the  aper- 


FIG.  37.— Shell  implement.     Chokoloskee  Key.     (About  full  size.) 

ture  around  from  left  to  right.  The  first  and  third  holes  are  in  line  for  a  handle, 
as  are  the  second  and  fourth.  The  third  hole  corresponds  also  with  a  notch  in  the 
edge  of  the  aperture.  This  implement,  which  has  a  fine  edge,  probably  served  as 
a  gouge.  Like  the  preceding  example,  it  came  from  Chokoloskee  key. 

In  the  collection  is  an  implement  from  Goodland  Point.  Key  Marco,  in  every 


320 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


way  similar  to  the  foregoing  save  that  the  notch  is  absent.      It  lay  on  the  surface, 
as  was  the  case  with  all  the  implements  described  in  this  collection. 

A  badly  battered  Fulgur  perversurn,  which  probably  served  as  a  hoe,  came 
from  Chokoloskee  key  (Fig.  38).  The  body-whorl  has  been  cut  away  a  number 
of  inches  back.  The  rude  hole  above  the  shoulder  is  present.  There  are  three 
holes  in  line  somewhat  below  the  shoulder,  and  a  notch.  The  first  and  third 
holes,  counting  from  left  to  right,  allowed  a  handle  to  pass  to  the  right  of,  and 
behind,  the  axis,  but  as  parts  of  the  shell  gave  way  at  the  third  hole,  this  hole 


l'i<:.  38. — Shell  implement.     Chokoloskee  Key.     (About  full  size.) 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA.  321 


FIG.  39.— Shell  implement.     Cliokoloskee  Key.     (About  full  size.) 
41  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XIII. 


322 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


«  4 


FIG.  40.— Shell  implement.     Chokoloskee  Key.     (About  full  size.) 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


323 


became  useless,  and,  consequently,  the  corresponding  hole  became  unserviceable. 
The  tool  was  then  utilized  bv  making  hole  number  two  and  a  corresponding  notch. 
There  is  represented  in  Fig.  39  a  Fnlgur  perversum  with  cleanly-ground 
edge  at  the  beak,  having  the  customary  rough  perforation  above  the  shoulder, 
or  periphery.  The  body-whorl  is  in  part  removed.  There  are  two  evenly-made 
perforations  to  allow  a  handle  to  pass  to  the  right  of,  and  behind,  the  columella, 
but  there  is  also  a  notch  which  does  not  correspond  with  either  hole.  This 
implement  came  from  Chokoloskee  key. 


Fro.  41. — Shell  implement.     Fikabatchee  Key.     (About  full  size.) 


324 


MISCELLANEOUS   INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA. 


FIG.  42. — Shell  implement,     (ioodlar.d  Point. 
(About  full  size.) 


Fi«.  43.— Shell  implement.     Gooilland  Point. 
(About  full  size.) 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION    IN    FLORIDA.  325 

Fig.  40  shows  a  Ftilgur  perversum,  from  the  same  key,  with  the  hole  above 
the  shoulder  and  the  body-whorl  removed  in  part  from  the  edge,  backward. 
Also,  as  is  often  seen  in  these  tools  of  shell,  a  part  of  the  body-whorl  has  been 
cut  away,  exposing  the  upper  third  of  the  c.olumella.  There  are  three  perfora 
tions,  almost  in  line,  somewhat  below  the  shoulder.  Numbers  one  and  three 
from  left  to  right  would  allow  a  handle  to  pass  behind  and  to  the  right  of  the 
eoluinella;  hole  number  two  probably  corresponded  with  a  notch  on  the  edge 
which  has  been  broken  away. 

Fig.  41  illustrates  a  Fulgur  perversum  from  Fikahatchee  (sometimes  spellt  d 
Fakahatchee)  key,1  Ten  Thousand  islands.  The  perforation  above  the  shoulder 
is  present;  the  body-whorl  has  been  removed  several  inches  from  the  edge,  back 
ward.  The  beak  is  ground  to  give  an  excellent  cutting  edge  for  a  gouge. 
There  are  two  holes  through  which  a  handle  could  pass  to  the  right  of  the  axis 
and  behind  it;  and  there  is  a  circular  hole  in  the  body-whorl  to  the  right  of 
the  aperture,  the  use  of  which  is  not  plain.  This  latter  hole  corresponds  with 
neither  of  the  other  two  holes  and  is  entirely  out  of  line  for  a  notch,  which, 
moreover,  is  not  present.  It  is  possible  that  this  implement  belongs  to  the  type, 
where  part  of  the  body-whorl,  above,  has  been  removed,  perhaps  to  facilitate 
attachment  of  the  handle  ;  but  if  so,  the  hole  is  much  more  evenly-made  and 
rounder  than  is  usually  the  case  in  openings  of  this  kind. 

Fig.  42  shows  a  type  of  implement  found  in  abundance  among  the  Ten 
Thousand  islands,  consisting  of  Fasciolaria,  with  much  of  the  body-whorl 
removed  and  two  perforations  behind,  to  allow  a  handle  to  pass  at  an  upward 
angle,  behind  the  columella.  A  round  hole  is  present  in  the  body-whorl  in  front, 
evidently  to  aid  in  attachment.  This  specimen,  which  was  used  as  a  hammer, 
came  from  Goodland  Point,  Key  Marco. 

*< 

Fig.  43  represents  an  implement  from  Goodland  Point,  which,  though  shown 
in  a  diilerent  position,  is  similar  to  the  one  last  described,  save  that  it  has  a  beau 
tifully-ground,  cutting  edge  for  use  as  a  chisel.  This  specimen  is  the  sole  example 
of  this  type  that  we  have  met  during  our  two  expeditions  through  the  Ten  Thou 
sands  islands. 

Incidentally,  it  may  be  said  that,  as  can  be  seen  by  referring  to  our  -  Certain 
Antiquities  of  the  Florida  West-Coast."  page  393,  the  Fulgur  carica,  or  Fulgur 
with  the  aperture  to  the  right,  is  not  found  on  the  western  coast  of  Florida,  and 
hence  the  aborigines  of  that  region  were  restricted  to  Fulgur  perversum  and  Fasci- 
olaria  for  use  as  implements. 

On  the  eastern  coast  of  Florida  Fasciolaria gigantea  is  infrequently  met  with, 
and  Fulgur  perversum  is  far  less  massive  than  is  that  shell  on  the  western  coast 
of  Florida.  Therefore,  on  the  eastern  coast  the  aborigines  were  almost  restricted  to 
Fulgur  carica  in  the  manufacture  of  implements  destined  for  heavy  work. 

All  over  Florida,  however.  Fulgur  perversum  was  used  for  drinking  cups,  and 
-celts''  made  from  the  lip  of  the  massive  Strombus  gigas  fire  found. 

1  Op.  cit.,  p.  377. 


INDEX. 


CKKTAIN    ABORIGINAL    KKMAINS    OF    THK    lil.ACK    WAHHIOR    KIVKK. 


Amethyst  elfigy  nl'  liunian  head,  164. 

Analytical  determination  of  vessel  of 
diorite.  '.'.'iS. 

Arcola,  inoiiiid  near,  126. 

Arrow-and-sun  symbol  on  earthen 
ware.  190,  228. 

Arrow-points,  scarcity  of.  at  Mound 
ville.  221. 

Asphaltnni.  mass  of.  166. 

Axe  of  copper,  with  ceremonial 
notches.  162. 

Basal     ]i(M'foratioii     of    vessels,    not 

fonnil  at  Moundville,  141. 
Bond  of  resin,  1  "t'.\. 
Beads    niiide    from    parts   of   mnssel- 

shells,  241. 
Beads  made  by  grinding  down  small 

shells.  180. 
Beads  of   wood,  copper-coated,   163, 

233. 
Beads,    spool-shaped,    of   shell,    195, 

KM;,  ins. 

Beads,  tubular,  of  shell.  195. 

Bison-horn,  pin  made  from.  162, 
163. 

Black  Warrior  river,  125. 

Bohannon's  Landing,  mound  near, 
127. 

Bone,  piercing  implements  of.  172, 
173.  222,  241. 

Bone,  pin  of.  attached  to  hair-orna 
ment.  198. 

Bowl,  toy,  of  stone,  223. 

Burial,  form  of,  at  Moundville,  140. 

Burial  No.  3;.  Mound  ('.  162. 

Calcined    human    bone>.     15;.     Iti2, 

213. 
Calvin's  Landing,  moiuid  at,  127. 


Candy's  Landing,  mounds  near,  12G. 

Canine-tooth,  of  wood,  copper-coated, 
151. 

Carnivores,  teeth  of,  perforated,  187. 

Cateshy  on  aboriginal  trade  in  wood 
pecker  bills.  139. 

"Celt."  beveled.  17  3. 

"Celts,"  many  fragments  of.  in  one 
mound,  221. 

Ceremonial  axe  of  stone,  152. 

Ceremonial  axes  of  copper,  154,  157, 
1<!2.  1(53.  173,  19(5. 

Ceremonial  weapon  of  chert.  213. 

Clements,  .Mr.  Hardy,  owner  of 
mounds  at  Moundville,  128. 

Coating,  artificial,  on  vessels  at 
Moiindville,  MO. 

Codices,  Mexican,  lower  jaw  vari 
ously  represented  in,  22(i,  227. 

Composition  of  Moundville  mounds, 
139. 

Copper  axes  with  ceremonial  notches, 
1(12. 

Copper,  ceremonial  axes.  154,  157, 
1H2.  163,  173.  19(1. 

Copper-coated  bead  of  shell,  162. 

Copper-coated  beads  of  wood,  163, 
233. 

Copper-coated  canine  tooth  of  wood, 
151. 

Copper-coated  ear-plugs  of  wood, 
15-1,  161,  195.  198,  200,  201,  204, 
207. 

Copper  fish-hook,  235. 

Copper,  hair-ornament  of.    163. 

Copper,  sheet,  ear-ornament  of,  175. 

Cupper,  sheet,  gorget,  annular,  163. 

Copper,  sheet,  gorget  with  eight- 
pointed  star,  163. 


'Copper,  sheet,  gorget  with  six- 
pointed  star  and  ri'fio  unite  eye,  195. 

Copper,  sheet,  gorget  with  swastika. 
154,  160,  217. 

Copper,  sheet,  hair-ornament  of, 
with  bison-horn  pin,  162,  163. 

Copper,  sheet,  hair-ornament  of, 
with  bone  pin  in  place,  198. 

Copper,  sheet,  hair-ornament  of, 
with  ri'poHnne  human  head,  198. 

Copper,  sheet,  ornament  of,  with  live- 
pointed  star.  198. 

Copper,  sheet,  ornament  of,  with  six- 
pointed  star,  219. 

Copper,  sheet,  pendants  with  open 
eye,  175.  196. 

Copper,  sheet,  pendants  with  swas 
tika.  155.  161.  163. 

Cranial  compression  practised  at 
Moundville.  140. 

Cross,  design  of,  on  gorget  of  shell, 
233. 

Cross,  sign  of,  made  of  series  of  three 
fingers,  212,  223. 

Design  of  a  cross,  made  up  of  series 
of  three  fingers,  212,  223. 

Design  of  arrow  and  sun,  on  earthen 
ware,  190,  228. 

Design  of  down-turned  hands,  in 
relief,  on  earthenware,  206. 

Design  of  eagle,  on  earthenware,  206. 

Design  of  eyes,  on  copper,  175,  195, 
196. 

Design  of  eyes,  on  earthenware 
(Figs.  122,  142).  210,  222. 

Design  of  head,  wings  and  tail  of 
horned  rattlesnake,  shown  sep 
arately.  232. 

1  »e>ii;-ii  nf  heron  on  earthenware.  187. 


528 


INDEX. 


Design  of  horned  rattlesnakes,  knot- 
led.  130. 

Design  <>!'  horned,  winged  rattle 
snake.  228. 

Design  of  human  skull,  on  earthen- 
ware,  175,  223.  224,  226. 

Design  of  luiinan  skull,  on  stone  disc, 
131. 

Design  of  tail   of  woodpecker,  with       ware.  143. 


Eagle,    (lesion    of.    (,n    earthenware. 

206. 

Ear-plug  of  sheet-copper,  175. 
Ear-plugs    of    wood    copper-coated, 

.l.->4.  101,  195,  11)8.  200,  201,  204, 


Eccentric-shape,  vessel  of.  182,  217. 
EiTigv   of   human   hand    in    earl  lien- 


swastika.  1!)0. 
Design  of  the  cardinal  ])oints,   155, 

158.  170.  212.  223. 
Design  of  the  cross  and  dmvn-hirnod 

finders,  on  earthenware,   170. 
Design  oi'  the  tail  of  the  woodpecker, 

on    earthenware.    170,    175,    190, 


Design,  open  hand  and  eye,  on  earth 
enware.  1  17.  175.  210,  228,  241. 

Design,  open  hand  and  eye,  on  stone 
discs,  131,  133,  137. 

Design,  painted,  rare  at  Moundville, 
143. 

Design,  woodpecker,  137,  138,  139, 
170.  204.  20(i. 

Diorite,  maul  of,  232,  238. 

Diorite.  unique  vessel  of,  238. 

Disc  of  stone,  found  at  Moundville, 
now  at  Peabody  Museum,  131. 


Klligy  of  human  head  in  amethyst, 
164. 

KHigv  of  owl.  in  earthenware1,  191. 

ElJigy-pipes.  discovery  of,  at  Mound 
ville.  131. 

Effigy-pipes  of  stone,  214,  215,  237. 

European  influence  not  noted  at 
Moundville,  141. 

Excavation  to  base.  Mound  (', 
Moundville.  143.  145. 

Excavation  to  base.  Mound  L, 
Moimdville.  199. 


Feet,  water-bottle  with.  241. 

Eield  east  of  Mound  ().  Mound 
ville.  218. 

Eield  north  of  Mound  H.  Mound 
ville,  141. 

Eield  north  of  Mound  I),  Mound 
ville.  178. 

Disc  of  stone,  with  design  of  knotted    Fi('I(1   ""rtl'   of   Moilll(l    Q-   Mound- 
serpents,     found     at     Moundville,        vill(>-  ~19' 
130.  ;  Eield  west  of  .Mound  1>,  Moundville, 

Disc  of  stone,  with  design  of  skulls  1^-- 

and  open  hand  and  eve.  131.  ^'l'1(l  W('*t  of  Mound   I,',  Moundville, 

Discoidal  stones.  15(1.  157,  100,  173,  "-40- 

189.  218.  221,  241.  Fighting  figures  engraved   on  shell, 

Discs  of  earthenware.  150,  172,  173,  15?>  158. 

179.  188.  IS!),  222.                              j  Figurine  of  earthenware.  190. 

Discs  of  stone.  Moundville,  145,  14!),  FillK(>l's<  design  on  earthenware,  170, 

150.  155.  172,  175,  178,  196,  200,  ]'5.-  ~]-   -:!- 

204,  20(i.  212,  221,  235.  'Fish-head   of  earthenware,  143. 

Discs  of  stone  used  as  palettes  for  Fish-hook  of  copper.  235. 

paint.  117.  150.  Foster.  I!.  11..  Landing,  mound  near. 

Domiciliary    mounds,    in   the   south,  ^;i- 

n.it  ordinarily  used  for  burial  pur-  I''"^'1'1'*  Ferry  Landbridge,  cemetery 

poses,  subject  discussed,  241.  above,  24  I. 

Domiciliary    mounds   not    ordinarilv  l''"st(J|'"s  Ferry  Landbridgc,  cemetery 


Glaiieonitc  with  burial,  201,  211. 

Gorget,  circular,  of  sheet-copper,  163. 

Gorget   of  shell,  bird  design,  22s. 

Gorget  of  shell,  design  of  cross,  233. 

Gorget  of  sheet-copper,  with  eight- 
pointed  star,  103. 

Gorget  of  sheet-copper,  with  six- 
pointed  star  and  rc/ioitxtc  eve,  195. 

Gorget  of  sheet-copper,  with  swas 
tika,  151.  100,  217. 

Graded  wavs,  at  Moundville,  130. 


G  raves, 


•rments     in,     along 


ii.-ed  for  burial  purposes.  139,  241. 
Duck-head  ornament  on  vessel  of  di- 

orite,  238. 
Duck-head  ornament    from   vessel  of 

earthenware,  is  i. 


below,  244. 
Frog,  elligy-vessel  of,  184. 

Galena,  lead-sulphide,  masses  of,  155. 

157,  158,  217. 
Glauconitc  used  as  paint.  21  1. 


Black  Warrior  river.  214. 

Gray's  Landing,  mound  near,  127. 

Ground  northeast  of  Mound  C', 
Moundville.  107. 

({round  south  of  .Mound  1).  Mound 
ville,  184. 

Hatchet,  monolithic,  Moundville, 
133. 

Heights  of  Moundville  mounds,  128. 

Hematite,  rubbed  slabs,  221. 

Heron,  design  of.  on  earthenware, 
187. 

High  water-level,  Moundville 
mounds  above,  128.  130. 

Hill's  Gin  Landing,  mound  near, 
213. 

Hoe-shaped   implement.  142. 

Holmes.  Prof.  W.  II..  137,  172,  19(1, 
200,  227,  .228. 

Horned  and  winged  rattlesnake,  de 
sign  of,  on  earthenware,  228. 

Horned  rattlesnake,  head,  wings,  and 
tail,  shown  separately,  232. 

Horned  rattlesnakes  on  stone  discs, 
136. 

Human  hand,  earthenware  pendant 
representing,  143. 

Human  head,  i-r/ioiixxi'.  on  sheet-cop 
per  ornament.  198. 

Human  skull,  design  of.  on  earthen 
ware.  175,  223,  224,  220. 

Human  skull,  design  of.  on  stone 
disc,  131. 

Ivory-billed  woodpecker,  design  on 
vessel,  137,  138,  139,  17(i.  201, 
206. 

Jones'  Ferry  Lauding,  mound 
near.  2  13. 


INDEX. 


320 


Laiicchcads  of  <|iiart/ife.   1 79. 

Lock  X  umber  7.  mound  below.   127. 

Lower  jaw  incorrect  Iv  represented  at 

Moundville.    175.   ->2I.    •>•>(•>. 
Lucas,  Prof.  F.  A..  1(12,  173. 

Ma|>.  1  23. 

Matthews,    Dr.   Washington,  i|iiotcd, 

190. 

Maul  of  dioriic.  232. 
Merrill.  Prof,  (icorge  1'..  -.):!!l. 
Mound   A,   Moundvillc.   111. 
Mound    B.   Moundvillc,    111. 
"Mound  ('.  Moundville.  1  13. 
Mound  I),  Moundville,  1  7 2. 
Mound   K.  Moundvillc,  1S8. 
Mound    F.   Moundvillc,    1SS. 
Mound  <J,   Moundvillc.   lill. 
Mound    II.  Moundvillc,   l!»l. 
Mound    I.  Moundvillc.   198. 
Mound  .1.  Moundvillc.   198. 
Mound    K.   Moundvillc,  198. 
Mound  L.  Moundvillc.  1!)!). 
Mound   M.  Monndvillc.   l!)!i. 
Mound   X,   Moundvillc.  1!)!). 
Mound  0.  Moundvillc.  lill). 
Mound  I',  Moundvillc.  21s. 
Mound  ().  Moundvillc.  219. 
Mound  1!,  Moundvillc.  220. 
Mound  S,  Moundvillc.  -.Ml. 
Mound  T.  Monndville,  -.'41. 
Mounds  and  cemeteries,  125. 
Moundville.  mound  in,  243. 
Moundville,  mounds,  description  of, 

130. 

Moundville,  mounds  near.  128. 
McAlpin's  \\Oodvanl.  mounds  near, 

126. 
llcCowin's  Blu IV.  mound  near,  243. 

Open   hand   and   eye.   design   of,   on 

cai  then  ware.   147,   115,   210.   228, 

241. 
Open    hand  and   eye,   design  of,   on 

stone  discs,  131.  133,  137. 
Ornament,  circular,  of  sheet-copper. 

with  eight-pointed  star,  163. 
Ornament,  circular,  of  sheet-copper, 

with  live-pointed  star.  198. 
Ornament,  circular,  of  sheet-copper. 

with  six-pointed  star,  1!)5,  219. 
Ornaments  of  earthenware.  218,  222. 


Ornament  of  sheet-copper,  with  hone 

pin  in  place.  P.'s. 
Owl.  clligv  of.  lit  I. 
Owl-head  from  earthenware  vessel. 

219. 

Paint,  white-lead,  at  Moundvillc.  of 
ahoriginal  make.  1  Iti,  1  I  ]. 

Paint,  on  stone  discs  and  slahs.  1  15. 
1  Hi.  1  17.  150.  175.  liiii.  198.  2i)(i, 
2IH.  20(i.  212.  235. 

Panther,  elligy-pipe  of.  2.'!7. 

Pathological  conditions  of  hones, 
irii.  180. 

Pearls,  perforated  as  heads.  Kid,  Kill. 
L95,  201. 

Pendant  of  earthenware,  human 
hand,  14:5. 

Pendants  of  sheet-copper,  with  rc- 
)><>nxxi'  eve,  1  ]•>.  !!)(>. 

Pendants  of  sheet-copper,  with  swas 
tika,  155.  Hi:;. 

Perforation  of  base  of  vessels,  not 
found  at  Moundvillc.  III. 

Piercing  implements  of  bone,  172. 
i;:i.  222.  241. 

Pipe  of  soapstone,  194. 

Pipe  of  stone,  fragment  of.  with  tur 
tle's  head.  221. 

Pipes,  eth'gy,  of  stone,  211,  2:57'. 

Pipes  of  earthenware.  17:5.  1S(i.  2:>:!. 
241. 

Pitch,  mineral,  LOG. 

Plan  <»f  excavation.   Mound   ('.   145. 

Plan  of  excavation,  Mound   1).  172. 

Prince,  Mr.  ('.  S..  owner  of  mounds 
at  Moundville,  128. 

Psilomelane,  probably  used  as  paint, 
217. 

Putnam.  Prof.  F.  W..  1:51.  l:)s.  190. 

Rattlesnake,  horned  and  winged,  de 
sign  of.  on  earthenware,  228. 

Rattlesnake,  horned,  design  of  head, 
wings,  and  tail,  shown  separately, 
232. 

Rattlesnakes,  horned,  knotted,  on 
stone  disc,  Ki(i. 

Rattles,  pebbles  formerly  contained 
in,  149,  1511. 

Uesin,  bead  of.  17.'i. 

Ridge  north  of  Mound  R.  Mound 
ville,  22d. 


Rivets  used  in  sheet-copper  orna 
ment.  19S. 

Sheet-copper  ear  ornament.   175. 

Sheet-copper    gorget,    circular,     lii:!. 

Sheet-copper  gorget  with  eight- 
pointod  star.  !(!:>. 

Sheet-copper  gorget  with  SL\- 
pointed  star,  195. 

Sheet-copper  gorgets  with  swastika. 
151.  Kill.  217. 

Sheet-copper  hair-ornament  with  bi 
son-horn  pin.  Ki2,  l(i:>. 

Sheet-copper  liair-oriiainent  with 
Imiie  pin  in  place,  198. 

Sheet-copper  hair-ornament  with  ;•<•- 
JHIUXHC  human  head.  19s. 

Sheet-copper  ornament  with  five- 
pointed  star.  19s. 

Sheet-copper  ornament  with  six- 
pointed  star.  219. 

Sheet-copper  pendants  with  r<7/r;//\.v(' 
eye,  175.  19IJ. 

Sheet-copper  pendants  with  swastika, 
155.  liil.  ]<;:!. 

Shell  drinking-cups,  undecorated, 
liil.  liis.  ->->;\. 

Shell  drinking-!  -up  with  engraved 
fighting  figures.  157.  158. 

Shell  gorgets.  172.  228.  233. 

Skeleton  fore-arm,  design  of.  on 
earthen  vessel.  22l>. 

Skeleton  fore-arm  in  Mexican  co 
dices.  22(i.  227. 

Skeleton  with  earthenware  vessels. 
illustration,  181. 

Slabs  of  stone.   149.   172.    1:18.  204. 

Socket  for  hone  pin,  in  ornament  of 
sheet-copper,  198. 

Stamped  decoration,  complicated, 
and  check,  absent  at  Moundville. 
141. 

Stephen's  Bin  If.  mound  near.  127. 

Stone  disc,  found  at  Moundville.  i)"» 
at  Peabody  Museum.  131. 

Stone  discs.  Moundville.  115.  149. 
150.  155.  172.  175.  17s.  liMi.  200, 
21)4.  20(1.  212.  221.  235. 

Stone  discs,  with  design  of  knotted 
serpents,  found  at  Moundville. 
136. 

Stone  slabs.  1  19.  172.  198.  2(M. 


42  JOUKX.  A.   X.  S.  PHILA..  VOL.   XIII. 


330 


INDEX. 


Sun-symbol    on    earthenware,     190, 

22S. 

Survey  of  Moundville  mounds,  129. 
Swastika,   138,   154,   155,   160,   163, 

190.  217. 


Tortoise,  efligy  of  liead  of,  from  stone 

pipe,  221. 
Tortoise  effigy-vessel,  184. 


I'liil'orniiry  of  shape,  in  Moundville  !  Weapon,  ceremonial,  of  chert,  213. 


vessels,  141. 

I'rn-lnirial    not   present   at   Mound- 
ville,  140. 

Vessel,  unique,  of  diorite,  238. 
Vessel,  woodpecker  design  witli  swas 
tika,  131,  138. 

Wardle,  Miss  If.  X.,  22G. 


White-lead  paint  at  Moundville.  of 
aboriginal  make,  146,  147. 

Winged  and  horned  rattlesnake,  de 
sign  of,  on  earthenware,  228. 

Wooden  beads,  copper-coated,  1(1:5, 
233. 

Woodpecker,  ivory-billed,  design  of, 
on  vessel,  137,  138,  139,  176,  204, 
206. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    REMAINS    OF    THE    LOWER    TOMBIGUEE    RIVER. 


Areas  of  inlluence,  278. 

Banner-stone,  part  of  a,  249. 
Hashi  creek,  mound  below,  265. 
liaslii  creek,-  mound  near,  266. 
liars'  Landing,  mound  near.  263. 
Bead  of  earthenware,  259. 
Beaver  creek,  mounds  below,  270. 
Heavei1  creek,  mounds  near  mouth  of. 

271. 

Holan's  \Yoodvard,  mound  near,  258. 
Bone  fish-books,  2G9,  273,  2 74. 
Bone  needle  with  eye,  249. 
Howl,  toy.  of  claystone,  259. 
Breckenridge  Landing,  mounds  near, 

272. 

Calcined  human  hones,  247. 
Carney's  Bluff,  mounds  near,  255. 
Certain  Aboriginal   Remains  of  the 

Lower  Tombigbec  River,  246. 
Charcoal  with  burials,  268,  274,  275. 
Compression,    skulls    showing,    249, 

252. 

Copper,  sheet,  car-plugs  of,  2 GO,  267. 
Copper,  sheet,  ornament  of,  259. 
Cord-marked  pottery,  270. 
Cox's  Landing,  mound  near,  263. 
Cut-off,  mound  near,  247. 

Kar-plugs  of  sheet-copper,  260,  267. 
Effigy,  human,  in  relief,  vessel  with, 

256. 
European    provenance,     objects    of, 

248,   249,   250. 

Fish-hooks  of  bone,  269,  273,  274. 


Games'  Landing,  mound  near,  258. 
(ialeiia,     lead     sulphide,     carbonate 

from,  used  as  paint,  264. 
Glauconite,  or  green  earth,  probably 

a  paint,  273. 

Gouge   of  volcanic   rock,   265. 
Groups  of  small  mounds,  location  of, 

272. 

Hair-pins  of  shell,  251. 
Holmes,  Prof.  W.  IL,  254,  270. 
Hooks'  Plantation,  mound  on,  247. 
Horse  creek,  mound  below,  269. 

Influence,  areas  of,  278. 

Jackson  Landing,  mounds  at,   259. 
Jackson,  mounds  near,  258. 

Kimhell's  Field,  mound  in,  260. 

Leaf-shaped    implements    of    stone, 

249,  260. 
Lucas,  Prof.  F.  A.,  272,  274. 

Malone's  Gin,  mound  near,  263. 

Maps,  245,  277. 

Medal,  Romanist,  worn  upside-down, 

248. 
Mounds  and  camp-sites  investigated, 

246. 

Xeedle  of  bone,  with  an  eye,  249. 
Xoble's  Gin,  mound  near,  2G5. 


Pathological  condition  of  hones.  250, 
268. 

Payne's  Woodvard,  mound  near,  253. 

Pcavcy's  Landing,  mound  opposite, 
262, 

Perforation  of  base  of  vessels,  mor 
tuary,  253,  254,  255,  256,  25!),  260, 
261,  262. 

Pipes  of  earthenware,  269,  274,  275. 

Powe's  Landing,  mound  near,  264. 

Rattle,  pebbles  used  in,  273. 
Rembert's    Landing,    mounds    near, 

275. 
"Rock-mounds,"  253,  255,  257. 

Santa  Bogue  creek,  mound  near,  263. 

Sheet-copper,  ear-plugs  of,  260,  267. 

Sheet-copper,  ornament  of,  259. 

Skulls  sent  to  Army  Medical  Mu 
seum,  249,  250. 

Smoking-pipes  of  earthenware, 
269,  274,  275. 

Stciner's  Landing,  mound  near,  275. 

Thornton's  I'pper  Landing,  dwelling 

site  at,  264. 
Three  Rivers  Landing,  mounds  near, 

248. 

Urn-burial,  form  of,  251. 
Urn-burials,  24,8,  250,  253,  258,  266. 

Vessel  with  human  effigy  in  relief, 
256. 

Wattcrs'  Plantation,  mound  on,  2G7. 


INDEX.  331 

CKKTAIX    AHOKKilXAI,    KEMAIXS   OX    MOHII.K    HAY    AM)    ON*    MISSISSI1TI    SOUXI). 


Bayou   Bat  re.  mounds  near.  2!Hi. 
Belle   Fontaine  Point,  mounds  near. 

297. 

Blakoloy.  shell  deposit  at,  281. 
Mon  Sooours  river,  shell   ridge  near, 

291. 

Bottle  creek,  mound  on.  2!M. 
Bunched  Imrials.  carefully  ari-anged, 

283. 

Calcined  hiinian  hones,  284. 
Cellar  Point,  shell  deposit  at.  2!»l. 
Coden  havou.  mounds  near,  2!)5. 
Complicated     stain])    decoration    on! 
cartlicnwarc,  288. 

Dauphin  island,  shell  deposit  on,  2n5. 
Decoration  of  complicated  stamp  on 

cart  hen  ware.  28S. 
Description  of  territory  investigated. 

279. 

Discoidal  stones.  283,  2!>3. 
Discs  of  earthenware,  as  to.  2!H>. 
Discs    of    earthenware,    perforated, 

used  as  back-pieces  for  copper  oar-. 

plugs.  2i>0. 


l)iscs  of  earthenware  used   in   Cen-IMounds    and    sites    investigated    on 
Ira  I  America.  2!N).  Mohile  hay.  280. 

Mussel-shell,  perforated,  285. 
rjtngy  ol    human   head,   in  earthen 
ware,  2!M.  Ornament  of  sheet- copper,  285. 

Ornaments   on   earthenware   vessels. 
Feet  on   fragments  of  earthenware,       OQ.    ,,()r 

285,  2sc. 
Fish    river,   shell    mound    near,   2!H).    I'aint.  rod,  on  earthenware.  2M>. 

Pel' fo rat  ion,  mortuarv,  of  hase  of  ves- 

sels,  286,  288. 

Hair-pin  of  shell,  2!M.  Pipes  of  earthenware,  28S. 

Ilartman,  ('.  \'..  ->'M. 
Horn,  implements  of,  281,  284.  Sandstone,  ferruginous,  outcropping 

Human   head,  elligy  of,   in  earthen- 1 

,   -HII  I 

ware,  . • '  i . 


Implement  of  daystone.  ^SS. 
Implements  of  horn.  ^Sl.  \'S  I. 


of  on  bay  shore,  287'. 
Sandstone,    slabs    of.    with    burials, 

286. 

Seymour's  bliitr,  mounds.on,  2!)3. 
Sheet-copper,  ornament  of,  285. 
Shell  Bank.  Strong's  bayou.  293. 
Simpson   island,  mounds  on,  280. 
•\|.       .,-;,  Starke's  wharf,  mounil   near.  287. 

Man    Walker    bayou,    mound    Dear,   T(.|m   ,.,   Cabawfa   ,.iv(,,  mound  ,,,1; 


Toy-bowl  of  earthenware,  2!>."). 
I'rn-burial.   form  of.  282. 


Mica  \\'ith  outline  of  spearhead.  28(i. 
Mounds    and    sites    investigated    on 
Mississippi    sound,    2 !).">. 


MISCELLANEOUS    INVESTIGATION'    IN    FI.OKIDA. 


Battey   Place,  referem-e  to.  :5(t5. 
Brown's  Landing,  mounds  near.  :iOO. 

Causeways  of  shell  near  Punta  Hassa 

mound.  ;!()!). 
Cbokoloskee  K"v,  ;J12. 
Conclusions      formed,     others     con- 

tirmeil,  liHI. 
Cup  of  wood,  :>14. 
Cnsbing's  discoveries  at  Marc-o.  304,, 

310. 

Karthenware    vesM'l.    ])endant    made 

from  fragment  of,  :il  1. 
Karthenware.   whole   vessels  of.   few 

in    mounds    of    southern    Florida, 

304. 


European  provenance,  objects  of,  of 
ten  found  in  southern  Florida 
mounds.  ;il)4. 

Frier  cove,  mound   near,  .'Sdl. 

Gasparilla  sound,  mound  in,  .'!02. 
Goodland    Point.   :!  I  I . 

Hammer   of   black    mangrove   wood. 

313. 

Harbor,  artificial.   313. 
Hickory  Blutf,  mound  near,  302. 
Holmes.  Prof.  \V.  II.,  3011. 

Implements  wrought  from  entire 
shells,  315  to  325. 


Kissiinmee.    mound    near.    300. 
Kissinimee  region,  2!>i). 

Lanier  mound.  300. 

Lee's  Landing,  mound  near,  301. 

Lossman's  l\ev.  315. 

Map,  21(8. 

Marco,   30!). 

Miscellaneous  Investigation  in  Flor 
ida,  2!)!). 

Mound  island.  30!). 

Mutilation  of  base,  mortuary,  shell 
drinking-cnps  with,  302. 

Mi-Cool's  Lauding,  mound  near,  302. 


332 


INDEX. 


Peace  creek  and  Charlotte  Harbor, 
mounds  of,  302. 

Pendant  made  from  fragment  of 
earthenware  vessel,  311. 

Pendant  made  from  glass,  by  aborig 
ines,  308. 

Pendant  of  sheet-silver,  308. 

Pendants,  311,  312. 

Pendants,  interesting,  from  Marco, 
311. 

Pine  island,  mound  on,  305. 


Pine    island,    mound    on,    made    by 

later  Indians,  305. 
Pino  island  mound,  skulls  from,  30f>. 
Punta  ]?assa,  mound  near,  308. 


Shell-heaps  of  southern  Florida  con 
tain  but  little,  304. 

"Sinkers"  not  found  near  the  water, 
312. 

Skull  preserved  at  the  Academy  of 
Xatural  Sciences,  302. 


Skulls  from  Pine  island  mound,  30(5. 

Southern  Florida  coast,  303. 

St.  Elmo  Landing,  mound  near,  302. 

Tidal    wave,    recent   one,   at   Marco, 

310. 
Tohopekaliga  lake,  mounds  of,  300. 

Wiggins  Key.  311. 
Wood,  cup  of.  314. 
Wood,  unidentified  object  of,  314. 


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